Dubai, July 26: French winger Moussa Diaby has joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad from Aston Villa on a five-year contract, the English Premier League side announced late on Wednesday.

Diaby, who joined Villa a year ago from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported fee of £52 million ($67 million), made 54 appearances in the 2023-24 season, registering 10 goals and nine assists and helping the club qualify for the Champions League.

The transfer fee paid by Al-Ittihad for Diaby was not specified.

The former Paris Saint-Germain player joins fellow France internationals Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté at the Jeddah-based club, which recently hired Frenchman Laurent Blanc as head coach.

Saudi Arabian clubs, which have signed some of the world’s top players over the last couple of seasons including Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, are among the top spenders in the international transfer market, according to global football governing body FIFA, splashing $970 million in 2023.

Nine-time Saudi league winner Al-Ittihad fell short of a place in continental competition after finishing fifth last season and also lost the Saudi Super Cup final to Al-Hilal.

“Our sports committee identified the need to strengthen the winger position,” Al-Ittihad CEO Domingos Oliveira said in a statement. “We are confident that Moussa Diaby is one of the top players who stand out globally in this role.”

Al-Ittihad begins its league campaign at Al Kholood on August 24.