Roma have officially completed the permanent signing of forward Donyell Malen from Aston Villa for a fee of €25 million, the club confirmed on Sunday. This figure is in addition to the €2 million already paid as part of the initial loan agreement struck in January. The deal was triggered by Roma’s qualification for the Europa League, with the terms of the buyout automatically activated.
Malen made a significant impact during his loan spell, scoring 14 goals in Serie A – two more than Mario Balotelli – and becoming the most prolific January signing in the league’s history. Only Ruud Gullit has scored more Serie A goals as a Dutch player. Roma celebrated the completion of the transfer with a video posted on social media, featuring Malen confirming his stay to a fan in a Roman restaurant, with the slogan “Bobby resta” (Bobby stays).
The club’s official statement read that Malen’s contract will run until June 30, 2030, and congratulated the player on his commitment. His arrival proved pivotal in securing Champions League qualification for Roma, becoming a key figure under manager Daniele Gasperini. Gasperini is now reportedly targeting further attacking reinforcements, with interest in players such as Greenwood and Summerville. Malen earns approximately €4 million per season and will join the Netherlands squad for the upcoming World Cup before returning for pre-season training in July.
In addition to the Malen deal, Roma have also announced a contract extension for defender Mario Hermoso. The club have exercised their option to extend Hermoso’s contract by one year, until 2027. Hermoso has been a reliable player for Gasperini, overcoming a difficult start to the season to become a key member of the squad. Contract renewals for Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini are also reportedly close to completion.
