Moussa Diaby’s anticipated return to Bayer Leverkusen has stalled over financial negotiations between the player and Al-Ittihad. The French winger must secure a severance agreement from the Saudi Pro League club before his proposed move to Germany can proceed, despite the two clubs having reportedly settled on a transfer fee.
Severance settlement required
The primary obstacle involves Diaby’s lucrative contract in Jeddah, which runs until 2029. The 27-year-old currently earns over €10 million per year, a figure that would decrease significantly to approximately €6 million plus bonuses should he return to the Bundesliga. Before any transfer can advance, Diaby and Al-Ittihad must agree on compensation for his early release, little more than a year after the Saudi club paid Aston Villa €60 million for his services.
While the transfer fee between Al-Ittihad and Leverkusen is expected to be settled below €30 million—roughly half the amount originally invested—the deal remains contingent on the severance discussions. The winger is understood to have agreed personal terms with Leverkusen, yet he cannot complete the move until his contractual exit from the Middle East is resolved.
Rival clubs monitoring situation
The delay has attracted attention from elsewhere in Europe. Inter are reportedly interested in the France international and could attempt to hijack the deal if the Leverkusen transfer collapses. AC Milan also maintain links with the former Paris Saint-Germain youth product, adding further complexity to the negotiations.
Diaby remains eligible for Al-Ittihad selection during this period of uncertainty. The 11-cap French international recently contributed an assist during the club’s 4-1 victory over UAE side Al-Jazira Club in the Asian Champions League preliminary qualifiers.
Previous Leverkusen success
A return to the BayArena would mark Diaby’s second spell with the club following a productive tenure between 2019 and 2023. During his first stint, he scored 49 goals in 172 appearances, form that earned him a €55 million transfer to Aston Villa before his subsequent move to Saudi Arabia.
Until Diaby and Al-Ittihad resolve the outstanding severance arrangements, the winger remains in contractual limbo despite the framework for a Bundesliga return being largely in place.