Aston Villa could still sanction Leon Bailey’s departure despite the English transfer window closing, with Saudi Arabian club Al-Diriyah expected to make a move for the winger.
Bailey remained at Villa Park when Tuesday’s 11pm deadline passed following a summer in which Unai Emery had openly hoped to find the Jamaica international another club.
That does not necessarily end the saga.
BBC senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel reports that Al-Diriyah were waiting to move for Bailey if he remained at Aston Villa beyond the English deadline.
That condition has now been met.
Crucially, the Saudi transfer window remains open until 6 September, giving Villa several more days to resolve Bailey’s future.
Al-Diriyah move keeps Leon Bailey exit alive
Al-Diriyah are not the only Saudi club interested.
Reporting attributed to Aston Villa correspondent Jacob Tanswell says both Al-Ittihad and Al-Diriyah have been exploring a deal, while Villa remain keen to move Bailey on.
That creates a significantly different situation from the one Villa faced when their domestic window closed.
Premier League clubs can no longer sign Bailey.
Villa, however, are still permitted to sell him to a league whose registration window remains open.
The latest Saudi route follows weeks of uncertainty.
Hull City previously tried to sign Bailey before failing to agree personal terms, while Sevilla subsequently opened discussions over another potential move.
ReadAstonVilla covered how Villa even considered extending Bailey’s contract before sanctioning a Sevilla loan in an attempt to protect the winger’s longer-term value.
No agreement followed.
Al-Diriyah now offer Villa another opportunity.
Unai Emery has made Aston Villa position clear
There has been little ambiguity about Emery’s preference.
Speaking before the deadline, the Villa boss admitted Bailey had previously been close to departing and said the club still hoped he could find another opportunity.
“We were expecting him to leave, and it still is the same,” Emery said.
He added that Villa’s objective was for Bailey to find “one good opportunity to leave and continue his career”.
Bailey’s position within the squad reflects that stance.
The 29-year-old has not been involved in Villa’s opening Premier League matchday squads, while Emery’s attacking options have changed dramatically.
Nicolas Jackson, Alejandro Garnacho and Ibrahim Mbaye have all arrived during a major summer overhaul.
Mbaye completed his £47million move from Paris Saint-Germain on Deadline Day, forming part of the £77m final-day double completed by Aston Villa alongside Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
That recruitment has only increased the pressure on Bailey’s place.
Aston Villa transfer deadline has not ended Bailey saga
Villa therefore enter Wednesday in an unusual position.
Their incoming business appears finished.
Tammy Abraham has chosen to stay, Mbaye and Harwood-Bellis have signed and Emery said he was not expecting further additions.
Bailey remains different.
The English deadline has passed, but his transfer window effectively remains open.
Al-Diriyah sporting director Dougie Freedman has Bailey on his radar and the BBC’s reporting explicitly stated the Saudi club would make its move if the winger remained at Villa after Tuesday night.
Al-Ittihad provide another possible route, although reports suggest they are considering alternative targets as well.
Villa now have until the Saudi window closes to discover whether that interest develops into an agreement.
After months of attempted exits, Bailey’s future could therefore still be one of the final chapters of Aston Villa’s extraordinary summer rebuild.
