Roma are hoping to secure a sale of forward Matias Soulé to one of two Saudi Arabian clubs, Al-Ahli or Al-Ittihad, for a fee of €40 million, according to reports in Italy. The potential transfer comes as Roma seek to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations and generate necessary capital gains before the end of June.
Roma have already utilized the Saudi Pro League to bolster their finances in recent seasons, selling Roger Ibanez to Al-Ahli in 2024 for approximately €30 million (including bonuses), and Houssem Aouar to Al-Ittihad for €10.5 million. Joao Costa also moved to Al-Ettifaq for €9 million. The club are under pressure to further improve their financial position to avoid sanctions from UEFA.
While both Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad are prepared to meet Roma’s asking price and offer Soulé a lucrative contract, the player himself is reportedly hesitant about a move to Saudi Arabia. Soulé is said to prefer remaining in Europe, where he believes he can continue to develop his career. There has also been reported interest from Aston Villa in the Premier League and Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart in the Bundesliga.
Selling Soulé for €40 million would represent a significant profit for Roma, who currently have the player valued at €18 million on their books. Juventus retain a 10% sell-on clause, meaning they would also benefit from any transfer fee. The potential capital gain, estimated at around €18-20 million, would contribute to the funds Roma are aiming to raise, alongside revenue from international television rights currently being negotiated with IMG, which is expected to be around €17-18 million.
In separate news, Roma are also progressing in contract renewal talks with Paulo Dybala. Discussions between club representative Tony D’Amico and Dybala’s agent, Carlos Novel, have reportedly brought the two parties closer to an agreement. The main point of contention revolves around Dybala’s fixed salary, with Roma offering around €2.3 million plus performance-based bonuses, while Dybala is seeking a base salary of €3 million.
