Despite performing well for Aston Villa this season, Donyell Malen is set to join the Serie A side on a loan deal with an obligation to buy
AS Roma have reportedly completed the signing of Aston Villa forward Donyell Malen, who is set to join the Serie A side on a loan deal with an obligation to buy. Mainly featuring off the bench this season, the 26-year-old has bagged seven goals and two assists across all competitions.
Malen joined Villa a year ago from Borussia Dortmund, making his debut by late January against West Ham before ending last season with three goals in 14 Premier League games.
Fabrizio Romano has reported that Roma will pay a £2m loan fee, with the obligatory buyout close set at £25m.
“Donyell Malen to AS Roma, here we go! Deal in place with Aston Villa and player’s agents,” Romano wrote on X.
“Malen, authorized by Villa to fly to Roma today. £2m loan fee, £25m buy clause to become mandatory. #AVFC accept all conditions of loan deal, manager by Roma director Ricky Massara.”
Hence, Malen’s last game for Villa was last weekend’s 2-1 FA Cup victory at Tottenham Hotspur. The Dutchman started upfront and set up Emi Buendía, who opened the scoring 22 minutes into the first half.
Buendía went on to tee up Morgan Rogers just before the break, with the England international doubling Unai Emery‘s side’s lead. The hosts hit the ground running in the second half and pulled one back through Wilson Odobert but didn’t manage to complete a comeback and Villa clinched qualification to the next round.
Roma also set to sign Robinio Vaz
Meanwhile, Roma are also closing in on a deal for one of France’s most highly-regarded young prospects, as talks are under way to secure the signing of 18-year-old Robinio Vaz from Olympique de Marseille, with negotiations now focused on the precise structure of the agreement rather than the player’s availability.
Italian transfer insider Alfredo Pedullà has reported that the interest is fully concrete, but that both clubs are still refining the financial framework and formula of the move.
Those discussions are expected to determine whether the deal is completed outright or includes performance related clauses designed to protect Marseille’s long-term interests.
While Malen is viewed as a plug and play option capable of stepping straight into Gian Piero Gasperini’s tactical system, Vaz would represent a forward-looking investment in one of Europe’s most highly-rated young attacking prospects.