French forward Moussa Diaby gave up a significant amount of potential earnings to leave Saudi Arabia and return to Bayer Leverkusen this summer, according to Sport Bild.
The 26-year-old, who had been one of the most valuable players in the Saudi Pro League with a reported market value of €25m, completed his return to Germany in a deal worth €28m to Leverkusen.
The transfer fee could rise by a further €7m and is reportedly the highest ever paid for a player leaving the Saudi Pro League.
Diaby’s decision to return to Germany came at a considerable financial cost.
His contract with Al-Ittihad was due to run until 2029 and would have paid him €12m net per season.
By comparison, his new contract with Leverkusen, which runs until 2031, is worth €7m gross per year.
Over the next three years in Saudi Arabia, Diaby would have earned about €36m net.
His five-year agreement in Germany is expected to bring him approximately €18m net, meaning the Frenchman is giving up a substantial amount of money to return to the Bundesliga.
Sport Bild reports that Diaby is foregoing around €15m net as part of his decision to return to Leverkusen.
Despite the financial difference, the winger was determined to make the move happen.
Diaby wanted to return to Germany, where he felt the quality of life and level of football were different from his experience in Saudi Arabia.
The move also reunited him with Leverkusen, the club where he developed into one of Europe’s leading attacking players between 2019 and 2023.
Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes had initially not considered Diaby as an option while searching for a right winger because of his salary.
“We hadn’t considered that possibility until then,” Rolfes said.
The situation changed when Diaby’s representatives made contact and indicated that the player was interested in returning to the German club.
Initial discussions began on 23 July, before negotiations over the transfer fee continued for several weeks.
At the same time, Diaby was negotiating a severance agreement with Al-Ittihad as he sought to end his time in Saudi Arabia.
The two sides eventually reached an agreement on 26 August, allowing the transfer to proceed.
Leverkusen will pay an initial €28m for the Frenchman, with the figure potentially increasing by another €7m.
Diaby will also receive a severance payment from Al-Ittihad as part of the agreement.
For Leverkusen, the return represents an opportunity to bring back a player who previously established himself as a major attacking threat at the club.
