Moussa Diaby returns to Bayer Leverkusen from Al-Ittihad | OneFootball

Bayer Leverkusen have completed the signing of Moussa Diaby from Al-Ittihad, bringing the French winger back to the Bundesliga three years after leaving the BayArena. Kicker reports the Saudi club finally granted approval after weeks of negotiations that nearly fell apart.

Leverkusen will pay a reported €27m for the 27-year-old. Diaby had been back in Leverkusen since last week as final paperwork was resolved. The delay grew after Al-Ittihad failed to sign Ritsu Doan from Eintracht Frankfurt on Monday evening, with the player rejecting a move, before the Saudis ultimately sanctioned Diaby’s departure.

Signed from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, Diaby evolved into one of the Bundesliga’s leading wide forwards across four seasons. He scored 49 times in 172 competitive games for Leverkusen before Aston Villa paid around €55m in 2023. He spent only one season in England before joining Al-Ittihad in July 2024.

His two years in Saudi Arabia included a league title, and a European return gathered pace this summer. Diaby can play on either wing or in narrower roles behind a striker, offering a major transition threat with his acceleration. His best Bundesliga season came in 2021/22 with 13 goals and 12 assists.

That familiarity should help head coach Carles Martínez integrate him straight away. The timing follows Leverkusen’s shock 3-2 defeat at newly-promoted SV Elversberg, who led 2-0 inside the first nine minutes and struck again almost immediately after half-time. Goalkeeper Mark Flekken gave a scathing verdict afterwards.

Source: Get German Football News

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