Moussa Diaby set for Bayer Leverkusen return after Inter miss out on winger

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Moussa Diaby is closing in on a return to Bayer Leverkusen, with the Bundesliga club reaching an agreement with Al-Ittihad worth around €28m after weeks of negotiations.

Bayer Leverkusen are on the verge of bringing Moussa Diaby back to the Bundesliga three years after his departure, having finally made the breakthrough in lengthy negotiations with Al-Ittihad.

According to Kicker, with further details reported by Sky Sport Germany and BILD, the two clubs have reached an agreement over a permanent transfer. Sky puts the fee at just under €30m, while BILD reports a more precise figure of €28m.

Diaby had already agreed personal terms with Leverkusen several weeks ago and is expected to sign a contract running until 2031. The final details are now being completed before the France international undergoes his medical and signs the deal.

Leverkusen finally make breakthrough in Diaby talks
The transfer had developed into a protracted affair despite Leverkusen having reached an agreement with the player relatively early in the process. The principal difficulty concerned the financial settlement required to release Diaby from his contract with Al-Ittihad.

The 27-year-old is under contract with the Saudi club until 2029 and, according to reports in Germany, earns around €10m net per season. Finding a solution over compensation was therefore closely connected to negotiations over the transfer fee.

That obstacle was finally removed on Wednesday morning, clearing the way for Diaby to return to the club where he established himself as one of the Bundesliga's most dangerous wide players. The Frenchman had also been absent from Al-Ittihad's last three matchday squads. Coach Jens Wissing explained that Diaby had told him he was not mentally ready to play while uncertainty continued over his future.

Inter had pushed to sign Diaby before Spence deal
Inter had emerged as one of Leverkusen's main rivals for Diaby earlier this month. The Nerazzurri were looking for a new option on the right and made an attempt to bring the former Aston Villa winger back to European football.

Al-Ittihad rejected an initial Inter proposal reportedly worth €20m plus Kristjan Asllani, with the Italian club considering an improved offer as negotiations continued. Leverkusen, however, remained firmly in the race and were able to offer the permanent return Diaby had been discussing with his former club.

Inter subsequently moved for Djed Spence, completing the permanent signing of the England international from Tottenham on 15 August. Spence signed a contract until June 2031, effectively bringing the Nerazzurri's search for a right-sided player to an end.

Diaby returns for almost half the price Leverkusen received in 2023
The finances of the deal make the move particularly notable for Leverkusen. Diaby originally joined the club from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019 and went on to make 172 appearances, scoring 49 goals and providing 47 assists before moving to Aston Villa in 2023.

Leverkusen received around €55m from the Premier League club, before Villa sold Diaby to Al-Ittihad for approximately €60m only a year later. Bayer are now poised to bring him back for little more than half the amount they received when he left Germany.

Medical tests and the formal signature are still required before the transfer can be announced, but after weeks of negotiations Diaby's return to the BayArena is now close to completion.