Aston Villa
Premier League • England
Unai Emery plan ‘key’ as Aston Villa seal five-year deal for sensational £51.8m Bundesliga winger
Aston Villa have continued their busy summer so far by agreeing to pay a club-record fee that could rise to £51.8million for winger Moussa Diaby.
Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has given the transfer his usual ‘here we go’ message, with Villa boss Unai Emery playing a key role in landing one of the best attacking players in the Bundesliga last season.
Villa have beaten off Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr to the capture of the Bayer Leverkusen wide man.
Indeed, Romano has revealed that the midlands outfit will pay an initial fee of €50m (£43.2m), with around €10 million (£8.6m) in add-ons.
Diaby is said to have penned a five-year deal and could join up with his new teammates on their US tour soon.
Speaking about the big-money signing, Romaon revealed the key men behind the deal and the part that Emery also played.
He said: “Huge one from owners Nassef Sawiris and Wesley Edens — Unai Emery’s plan has been key to win Diaby race.
“Monchi & Damián Vidagany got it done. Top work, top signing.”
Villa finally get their man
The dynamic 24-year-old has been a long-term target for the Premier League sides, having initially showed an interest back in 2021 following the £100m sale of Jack Grealish.
Diaby joins fellow summer signings Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres at Villa Park as Enery prepares his side for a return to European action in the coming campaign.
Villa start the new Premier League season with a trip to Newcastle on Saturday August 12.
Welcome to Aston Villa, @MoussaDiaby_19. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/kipVCtG80r
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 22, 2023