The French Connection: French Midfielder Moussa Diaby Joins Laurent Blanc’s Al Ittihad From Aston Villa in a Deal Worth £50 Million
After only one season at Aston Villa, French midfielder Moussa Diaby is changing clubs. The 25-year-old joins Al Ittihad, where he will play under the tutelage of fellow French national Laurent Blanc and alongside his countrymen Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante.
Aston Villa confirmed Diaby’s departure on Wednesday via the club’s official X(formerly Twitter) account, thanking him for his services. Last summer, Moussa Diaby joined the club from Bayern Leverkusen in a club-record deal worth £52 million. His output was decent, with ten goals scored in 54 appearances.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, Diaby’s former manager at Paris Saint-Germain, considered the midfielder a crucial part of the squad, especially with the team playing in the Champions League this season. However, Aston Villa’s precarious financial position regarding the Financial Fair Play rules meant that the club had to listen to offers. Ultimately, Al Ittihad will be getting a player just entering his prime, eager to demonstrate his value to the fans and the teammates.
Posting on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Diaby thanked the fans, “Villans, thank you for everything. It’s time to say goodbye. I’d like to thank the club, the team members, the staff and everyone working at Aston Villa”.
Moussa Diaby will be signing a five-year contract at Al Ittihad and will reportedly earn £20 million a year. Al Ittihad continue to bolster their squad in all areas to ensure they are competitive once the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season starts.
