Italian giants Roma have officially secured the services of Dutch forward Donyell Malen from Aston Villa, finalizing a move that had raised some initial questions about its structure.
While Villa have described the transfer as a deal for an undisclosed fee, Roma clarified that Malen has joined on a loan deal with an option to buy.
Reports indicate that the option could become an obligation valued at €25 million (£21.7m/$29m) at the end of the season, alongside a €2 million loan fee, effectively allowing Villa to recoup most of their outlay for the player.
Malen’s move comes just a year after his transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Villa. Despite scoring seven goals this season, he struggled to secure regular starts under Unai Emery, featuring in only five league starts across 21 appearances.
The 24-year-old forward now joins Roma as they aim to bolster their attacking options for the remainder of the Serie A campaign, hoping Malen can rediscover the form that made him a sought-after prospect across Europe.
✍️ Donyell Malen is a new Roma player! 🐺
📄 https://t.co/hS41DU1YMB#ASRoma pic.twitter.com/tXFP4Q3pVJ
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) January 16, 2026