Aston Villa are set to sign Arsenal-linked Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen for a significant fee, according to reports.

BOCHUM, GERMANY: Moussa Diaby of Leverkusen runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between VfL Bochum and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Vonovia Ruhrstadion on April 10, 2022. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
BOCHUM, GERMANY: Moussa Diaby of Leverkusen runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between VfL Bochum and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Vonovia Ruhrstadion on April 10, 2022. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Fabrizio Romano reports that Moussa Diaby has given his approval to a move to Aston Villa, choosing the Premier League club over a significant offer from Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Playing Premier League football was Diaby’s priority, and he wants to join Unai Emery’s project.

There’s some debate over the exact fee, with Romano reporting that Villa have agreed to pay in excess of €50m (£43.3m) to complete the signing from Bayer Leverkusen. The Athletic claim the total is closer to €40m (£34.6m).

Either way, Diaby has agreed personal terms and the move now seems set to go ahead.

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MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 26: Moussa Diaby of Bayer 04 Leverkusen reacts during the UEFA Champions League group B match between Atletico Madrid and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium on October 26, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN: Moussa Diaby of Bayer 04 Leverkusen reacts during the UEFA Champions League group B match between Atletico Madrid and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium on October 26, 2022. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

According to previous reports, Diaby had also attracted interest from Arsenal, Newcastle United, and Manchester United in the Premier League.

Loic Tanzi reported for L’Equipe last month that whilst Diaby is a priority target for Newcastle United, they aren’t a priority for him.

The suggestion was that Newcastle had fallen behind Arsenal in convincing the player to join them in a summer transfer, but clearly Villa ended up taking the lead instead.

RMC Sport added that both Arsenal and Newcastle were particularly interested in the move, and that the Gunners made a firm offer for Diaby on the last day of the 2022 summer window.

Leverkusen's French forward Moussa Diaby celebrates scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match Bayer 04 Leverkusen v VfB Stuttgart in Leverkusen on February 12, 2022. (Photo by UWE KRAFT/AFP via Getty Images)
Leverkusen’s French forward Moussa Diaby celebrates scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match Bayer 04 Leverkusen v VfB Stuttgart in Leverkusen on February 12, 2022. (Photo by UWE KRAFT/AFP via Getty Images)

Links to Arsenal appeared to fade as the Gunners agreed a new contract for Reiss Nelson, seemingly putting the pursuit of a wide forward on the backburner.

Diaby is under contract with Leverkusen until 2025, and he managed 14 goals and 11 assists in 2022/23, bringing him to 49 goals and 48 assists in 172 games for Bayer Leverkusen overall.

The 23-year-old is also a France international, and he can play on either wing.

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