Wechselt Moussa Diaby zu Aston Villa?

Aston Villa have announced the signing of French international Moussa Diaby.

If outside observers needed further evidence of Aston Villa’s upward trajectory, then the intent shown this summer has answered such questions.

Offering a lucrative package to bring in Youri Tielemans after his contract expired at Leicester City before convincing Pau Torres — a Spain international and one of Europe’s most coveted defenders in recent years — to sign symbolise Villa’s unequivocal belief in Unai Emery. Moussa Diaby now becomes the latest coup.

Villa have been tracking Diaby for the past two and a half years, and their interest dates back to 2021 when Jack Grealish was leaving to join Manchester City. Signing a five-year-deal worth a club record €40million (£35m) plus €10million (£8.7m) in realistic add-ons, the 24-year-old aligns with Villa’s strategy of recruiting players with experience of playing in Europe. Diaby’s success in the Europa League — scoring 12 goals and registering eight assists in 28 appearances — was vital both to the hierarchy and Emery.

Emery has become the autonomous figure at Villa Park, with the club’s power structure answering to him. He has the license to shape recruitment and the playing squad in his image. As was the case with Torres, Diaby was a player the Spaniard specifically pushed for after conversations with the scouting department and having worked together at Paris Saint-Germain.

Initially, Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams was Emery’s top choice. It was evident that, within his 4-2-2-2 shape, Emery required a versatile and pacey attacker who could threaten the space between centre-back and full-back and operate in multiple positions across the front line. Williams fulfilled the criteria; as did Marco Asensio, another target, who ultimately opted to join PSG. Throughout, though, recruiting an attacker with those specific qualities became Villa’s most pressing concern.

In possession, Villa build in four defined tiers, with high full-backs in a back four, a double pivot, two No 10s and split forwards. Watkins is the focal point up front and, pertinently in the case of Diaby, dovetails with a mobile forward adept at tucking into central areas while stretching play out wide and in behind.

In the example below, Leon Bailey — Diaby’s former Bayer Leverkusen team-mate and a player he will be in direct competition with — begins to make a trademark movement under Emery.