Roma have completed the signing of Netherlands forward Donyell Malen from Aston Villa, bringing the 26-year-old to Serie A just a year after his move to the Premier League.
Aston Villa confirmed the transfer was agreed for an undisclosed fee, while Roma clarified that the deal is structured as a loan with an option to buy, giving the Italian club flexibility ahead of a potential permanent move.
Malen scored 10 goals in 46 appearances for Villa following his arrival from Borussia Dortmund in January 2025, and has found the net seven times this season. However, despite his output, the forward has struggled to secure a consistent starting role under Unai Emery, making just five league starts across 21 appearances in the current campaign.
The move offers Malen an opportunity for regular minutes and a more central role within Roma’s attacking setup as the club looks to consolidate its push for Champions League qualification, currently sitting fifth in Serie A.
A product of the Ajax and Arsenal youth systems, Malen began his senior career at PSV Eindhoven before joining Dortmund in 2021, where he further established his reputation as a versatile and direct attacker.
Across his club career, Malen has registered 104 goals in 294 appearances, while also contributing 13 goals in 49 caps for the Netherlands.
He will wear the number 14 shirt at Roma as he begins the next phase of his career in Italy.
