“It’s like coming home” – Moussa Diaby on his return to Bayer Leverkusen

After a lot of going back and forth, Moussa Diaby completed his move to Bayer Leverkusen from Al-Ittihad on the deadline day of this summer's transfer window. The former French international gave an exclusive interview to the Bundesliga (DFL) following his return to the club he left three years ago.

“It’s like coming home because I spent four wonderful years here,” Diaby explained the decision to return to Leverkusen. “Coming back here is always a pleasure because I’ve always had the support of everyone, whether it was the fans or the people at the club. So I’m really happy to be back here. It’s like being at home."

The PSG academy product scored 49 goals in his first stint in Germany. After his one-year spell in England with Aston Villa, the 27-year-old won the domestic double in Saudi Arabia in the 2024/25 season.

But he still remembered the memories from his first spell in Leverkusen. “I only have good memories, but the best ones that came back to me when I stepped onto the pitch were the European nights, with the atmosphere and all the fans in the stadium creating an incredible atmosphere and pushing us during the games,” Diaby told DFL.

As fate would have it, Leverkusen won the Bundesliga for the first time right after Diaby’s big-money move to Aston Villa. "I think the club has changed a lot because now it’s a bigger club. After I left, they became champions. They were an unbeaten team and almost managed to win every competition.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t end well in the Europa League, but it was an almost perfect run. I think that helped the club grow a lot. It remains a club with a lot of ambition and a lot of talent, and one that develops excellent players."

Diaby said he followed the club since he left as they had a big impression on him during his first stint. The fans didn’t forget about him either. He received a big applause when he came on as a substitute for his second BayArena debut in the 4-0 win over Union Berlin.

"It made me happy and touched me because I know all the love they have for me, and it’s mutual. I know they’ve always been there, at home and away, supporting us in the good moments as well as the bad ones. I’m very grateful to them, and I hope we can repay them this season by playing some very good games."

Diaby played the entire 90 minutes in the next Bundesliga game away at Augsburg before starting once again in the Europa League win over Celje. Die Werkself will face a bigger test on Sunday as they host RB Leipzig before the international break.

“We have a lot of young players in our team now, so I’m one of the more experienced players.” Diaby summed up his role off the pitch. “When I arrived, I wasn’t at 100 percent. Before the match against Union Berlin, I didn’t have much training in my legs. But I think my explosiveness, my rhythm and everything else are things that are still in me."

Diaby remained coy when DFL asked about his targets for the season as Leverkusen are competing on three fronts. “We have everything to achieve. As I said, it’s a big club, so of course we have big ambitions. But we’re not going to rush things. We have to stick together as a team, and all move in the same direction.”