LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Moussa Diaby is officially back at Bayer Leverkusen, three years after leaving the Bundesliga — and his return could prove to be one of the most intriguing moves of the transfer window.
The 27-year-old France international has completed a transfer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad and signed a contract with Leverkusen running until June 30, 2031, the German club confirmed on September 1. Diaby will also reclaim the No. 19 shirt he wore during his first spell at the BayArena.
For Leverkusen, this is more than simply bringing back a familiar face. It is a calculated attempt to restore pace, directness and proven Bundesliga quality to an attack that enters the 2026-27 season under a new coach and with renewed pressure to return to Germany’s elite.
Diaby Comes Back to the Club That Made Him a Star
Diaby originally joined Bayer Leverkusen from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, arriving as a young winger with enormous speed but still plenty to prove.
Four years later, he left Germany as one of the Bundesliga’s most dangerous attacking players.
According to Leverkusen’s official records, Diaby produced 49 goals and 48 assists in 173 competitive appearances during his first spell with the club. His performances also helped him break into the France national team, for whom he has earned 11 senior caps.
His 2021-22 Bundesliga campaign was particularly impressive: Diaby recorded 13 goals and 12 assists in league competition, underlining why some of Europe’s biggest clubs began tracking him.
That rise eventually resulted in a move to Aston Villa in 2023.
Reuters reports that Diaby scored six goals in 38 Premier League appearances during his lone season in England before leaving Villa for Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2024.
Saudi Arabia Brought Trophies — Now Europe Calls Again
Diaby’s spell in Saudi Arabia was hardly an unsuccessful detour.
Playing alongside former Real Madrid superstar Karim Benzema, the French winger helped Al-Ittihad win the Saudi Pro League and King’s Cup domestic double in 2025. Leverkusen described Diaby and Benzema as one of the Saudi league’s most productive attacking partnerships.
Yet the possibility of a European return gathered momentum throughout the summer.
In the days before the transfer was completed, Diaby was left out of Al-Ittihad’s travelling squad for a league match against Al-Qadsiah amid negotiations with Leverkusen, further signalling that his Saudi chapter was nearing its end.
The final deal reportedly required patience.
German media reported that the negotiations stretched across several weeks and that Diaby had already travelled back to Leverkusen while the two clubs worked through the final paperwork.
How Much Did Bayer Leverkusen Pay for Moussa Diaby?
Neither Leverkusen’s official announcement nor the CNA/Reuters report disclosed a transfer fee.
However, several German and international reports place the price in roughly the same range.
AFP, citing Bild, reported a €27 million fee, while Sky Germany said Leverkusen were paying just under €30 million. Because the clubs have not publicly confirmed the figure, it should be treated as a reported fee rather than an official amount.
That price is notable considering reports that Aston Villa paid around €55 million when they bought Diaby from Leverkusen in 2023.
For Leverkusen, therefore, the deal could represent an opportunity to bring back a player they know exceptionally well for significantly less than the amount they received when he originally left.
Why Leverkusen Wanted Him Back Now
There is also a tactical reason behind the reunion.
Leverkusen entered the 2026-27 season under new head coach Carles Martínez Novell, the former Toulouse manager appointed during the summer after the club finished sixth in the Bundesliga last season. Martínez has been associated with an energetic attacking approach built around quick transitions — an obvious fit for Diaby’s acceleration, dribbling and ability to attack space.
And Leverkusen’s opening Bundesliga result only increased the urgency.
The club suffered a surprise 3-2 defeat to newly promoted Elversberg, falling two goals behind inside the opening nine minutes. The loss highlighted how quickly Martínez must establish consistency with a squad that has again undergone significant change.
Diaby can play on either wing, drift into central attacking positions and cut inside from the right onto his stronger left foot — giving Martínez several options without requiring the lengthy adaptation normally associated with a major new signing.
Managing director for sport Simon Rolfes said Diaby’s pace and dribbling would give Leverkusen’s attack additional quality and tactical possibilities.
Diaby Says He Never Hesitated
Perhaps the most revealing part of the transfer is Diaby’s own reaction.
The Frenchman said that once Leverkusen approached him and a return became possible, he “didn’t hesitate for a second.”
He also made clear that this is not simply an emotional homecoming. Diaby said competing for trophies with a Leverkusen side that has grown considerably since his departure is now one of his major ambitions.
That distinction matters.
Leverkusen are not bringing Diaby back to recreate the past. They are betting that the player who left Germany in 2023 can return older, more experienced and capable of becoming a decisive piece in the club’s next rebuild.
And after a turbulent opening weekend, Leverkusen may need that familiar explosiveness sooner rather than later.
WWC ONE MEDIA MJE
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