Moussa Diaby is poised to complete a dramatic return to Bayer Leverkusen little more than a year after his departure to the Saudi Pro League. Negotiations between the Bundesliga club and Al-Ittihad have reached a decisive breakthrough, clearing the path for the 27-year-old winger to rejoin his former club within days.
The player originally left Leverkusen in the summer of 2023, joining Aston Villa for €55 million following four seasons at the BayArena. He spent just twelve months in the Premier League before Al-Ittihad paid €60 million to secure his signature in 2024. Now, according to separate reports from German football publications Kicker and Bild, Diaby is set to reverse his trajectory and return to European football.
Transfer Fee Assessment
While the fundamental agreement appears settled, the precise financial details vary between sources. Kicker indicates the transfer fee will fall just under €30 million, while Bild reports a specific figure of €28 million. Either valuation represents a significant markdown from the €60 million Al-Ittihad invested to acquire the player from Aston Villa merely one year ago.
The proposed deal offers Leverkusen the opportunity to reacquire a proven performer at roughly half the price they commanded from Aston Villa in 2023. For Al-Ittihad, the transaction would mean absorbing a substantial loss on a player who spent just a single season in the Saudi Pro League before seeking an exit.
Timeline and Confirmation
Neither club has issued official confirmation of the agreement, but sources suggest the deal is in its final stages. If negotiations proceed according to plan, the formal completion of Diaby’s return will be announced within the coming days.
The move would conclude a remarkably busy period for the winger, who will have represented three different clubs across three consecutive transfer windows. His return to Leverkusen marks a swift end to his Middle Eastern experiment and restores him to the environment where he previously spent four years establishing himself as a key attacking player.
Diaby’s homecoming represents a rare instance of a high-profile player returning to a former club so soon after departing for the Saudi Pro League, highlighting the evolving dynamics of the global transfer market.