Aston Villa make João Félix a target after agreeing £50m Moussa Diaby sale

Aston Villa are targeting an eye-catching move for João Félix after sanctioning the €60m (£50.5m) sale of their record signing, Moussa Diaby, to Al-Ittihad.

Félix, who joined Atlético Madrid in a €126m deal from Benfica as a teenager in 2019, is among those under consideration as Villa prepare for the Champions League. Villa last played in Europe’s elite competition in 1982-83. Félix has spent most of the past two seasons on loan from Atlético, scoring 10 goals in 44 appearances for Barcelona across 2023-24. Chelsea paid €11m (£9.7m) to borrow Félix for the second half of 2022-23 and, although it is unclear how viable a deal is, he is a player of interest to Unai Emery. Félix is under contract at Atlético until 2027.

The 24-year-old Portugal forward is an intriguing prospect for Emery, who likes players capable of operating across the front line, such as the January signing Morgan Rogers. Villa admire the Athletic winger Nico Williams, who has a €58m (£49m) release clause, but the Spain forward, one of the stars of Euro 2024, is a priority target for Barcelona.

Diaby is expected to sign a five‑year contract with the Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad, who have also approached Manchester City about buying the goalkeeper Ederson. Villa have confirmed the £50m signing of the Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton.

Diaby’s impact waned over the course of last season after his summer arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in a package worth up to €60m. He made 54 appearances, scoring 10 goals and registering nine assists, and played in every Premier League game.

Diaby picked Villa over a move to Saudi Arabia after receiving an offer from Al-Nassr. “I decided to come here for the project,” he told the Guardian last December. “In terms of Saudi, I spoke with my agent and my family but my first idea was to come here because I wanted to play against big teams and everybody knows the Premier League is the best league in the world.

Villa last week triggered a buyback option to re-sign the academy product Jaden Philogene from Hull City in a £13m deal, boosting their options on the wing. The emergence of the January arrival Morgan Rogers means they have depth in attack, with Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey established as regulars, but they intend to replace Diaby. Philogene was among the outstanding performers in the Championship last season, scoring a rabona against Rotherham.

Villa have been one of the busiest clubs in the market, with Onana, Ian Maatsen, Samuel Iling-Junior, Lewis Dobbin, Enzo Barrenechea and Ross Barkley arriving, while Douglas Luiz, Omari Kellyman, Morgan Sanson and Tim Iroegbunam have departed. Philippe Coutinho, who has two years on his contract, has joined Vasco da Gama on a season’s loan. Emery is open to allowing Jhon Durán to depart, with Villa seeking about £40m for the Colombia striker. West Ham could revisit a move after having a loan bid rejected in January.