Dutch forward Donyell Malen has completed a move to Italian outfit AS Roma from English Premier League side Aston Villa after just a year at the club.
The Arsenal academy product secured a return to England in January 2025 when he joined Villa in a £21 million deal from Borussia Dortmund, but departs just one year later.
Malen, 26, made 46 appearances across all competitions for the EPL side, scoring 10 times and providing two assists. In the current campaign, he has 21 appearances in the league, scoring four times mostly coming on as a substitute.
However, confusion remains over his transfer status as Aston Villa confirmed the deal for an undisclosed fee, while AS Roma released a statement that says an initial loan deal with an option to buy in the summer.
“AS Roma are delighted to announce the signing of Donyell Malen from Aston Villa. Malen joins on loan with an option to buy”, the statement read.
“The 26-year-old striker has played for PSV Eindhoven, Borussia Dortmund andAston Villa. He has made 294 appearances and scored 104 goals in all competitions for these clubs.
“A Dutch international, Malen has made 49 appearances and scored 13 goals for the Oranje and was in his country’s squad for the 2020 and 2024 European Championships. In the latter, he played a key role in the Netherlands’ round of 16match against Romania, which they won 3-0 thanks to his brace.
“He has chosen the number 14 jersey. Welcome to Rome, Donyell!”
Malen will earn around €4 million per season in Italy and becomes the club second signing this month after the arrival of Robinio Vaz from Olympique Marseille earlier in the transfer window.
The 26-year-old could make his debut in AS Roma’s league game against Torino on Sunday, as the Giallorossi target a win to keep pace with the top four.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
