July 23, (THEWILL) – Aston Villa have shattered their club transfer record with the signing of Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen.
The French winger’s move to Villa Park comes at an estimated fee of £51.9 million, surpassing the previous record set by Emiliano Buendia’s transfer of £33 million. Diaby’s impressive track record at Leverkusen, where he scored 49 goals and provided 48 assists in 173 games, made him a highly sought-after talent in the summer transfer.
Upon the confirmation of his departure from Leverkusen, Diaby said: “I will always look back happily and gratefully on my time in Leverkusen. Now I want to take the next step, start a new chapter.” The 24-year-old winger also credited Bayer 04 for playing a pivotal role in his development: “Here, as a very young player, I received so much trust and playing time that I was ultimately able to become who I am today.”
Diaby, a France international with 10 caps to his name, is expected to bring an added dimension to Villa’s attacking formation. His signing marks the third major arrival for the club this summer, joining Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres. Belgian midfielder, Tielemans arrived on a free transfer following his departure from Leicester City, while central defender, Pau Torres, commanded a fee of £28.5m.
With Diaby’s arrival, Villa’s total summer spending has now reached an impressive £76 million as they gear up for their much-anticipated return to European football.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
