Epitome of win-win deal: Roma spare no expense to keep Malen
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 04.05.26. | 16:05
The Dutchman scored 12 goals in 16 appearances for the Giallorossi, turning out to be one of the best signings the Rome side secured in the last couple of years
If you are looking for a definition of a win-win situation in a dictionary, as of this season, one of them could be: Donyell Malen's move to Roma.
Ever since he left his boyhood club, PSV Eindhoven, the Dutchman has been trying to find himself abroad, at Borussia Dortmund and then Aston Villa, but in vain.
In his maiden two seasons at Signal Iduna Park, he scored 19 goals. The third one was even better, as he hit the bullseye 15 times, and yet, it wasn't enough to convince the Germans he was a good fit for them.
The BVB sold him to the Villans in January 2025, where he had shining moments, but again something was missing, as he couldn't get his place in the sun next to Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers.
A year later, he tried his luck on loan in Rome and made arguably the best move of his career. At the same time, Roma secured one of their best - or at least, most efficient - signings in the last couple of years.
🟡🔴 Malen has 11 Serie A goals since joining in January, making him the second-highest scoring winter signing in league history. ⚡
— SleeperFootballNews (@SleeperFootNews) April 28, 2026
Only Balotelli's 12 for Milan in 2012/13 stands ahead, with four games still to play. 🎯
The record is there for the taking. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Vz0DpYS6ll
In 16 games with the Giallorossi across all competitions, Malen netted 12 times (11 in the Serie A), becoming a crucial player for Gian Piero Gasperini's squad. The strength and attacking threat of the Wolfess's offence lies completely on the 27-year-old's shoulders, and he's coping with that pressure with ease.
Therefore, the information launched by the Dutch Voetbal International that the side from the Italian capital wants to keep the Aston Villa loanee at Stadio Olimpico and trigger a €25 million option to buy as soon as possible, comes as no surprise.
🚨 Roma are ready to exercise their option to buy Donyell Malen from Aston Villa for €25M which works out at £21.6M.
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) May 3, 2026
The 27-year-old Netherlands winger has scored 12 goals for the Italian side since signing on loan in January.
(Source: @VI_nl) pic.twitter.com/zU7TNrGakc
This way, the Birmingham club will recover the money they invested in Malen's move from Dortmund and even earn €2 million (the value of the loan fee the Giallorossi paid in January), while Roma will tie their best striker and most valuable asset for the Serie A Champions League race.
Inter Milan secured the Scudetto last night, but the remaining UCL tickets have yet to be booked.
Tonight (21.45), Gasperini's team hosts Fiorentina, aiming to leapfrog Como in the fifth place and close the gap behind the fourth-placed Juventus to only one point, with a potential win over La Viola.
At the same time, it will be a new chance for Malen to increase his scoring tally and enter the race for the Capocannoniere title (Serie A Golden Boot), as he's currently trailing the leader, Lautaro Martinez, by 5 goals.
SERIE A - MATCHDAY 35
Friday
Pisa - Lecce 1-2 (0-0)
/Leris 56 - Banda 52, Cheddira 55/
Saturday
Udinese - Torino 2-0 (1-0)
/Ehizibue 45+1, Kristensen 51/
Como - Napoli 0-0
Atalanta - Genoa 0-0
Sunday
Bologna - Cagliari 0-0
Sassuolo - Milan 2-0 (1-0)
/Berardi 5, Lauriente 47/
Juventus - Verona 1-1 (0-1)
/Vlahovic 62 - Bowie 34/
Inter - Parma 2-0 (1-0)
/Thuram 45+1, Mkhitaryan 80/
Monday
19.30: (2.90) Cremonese (3.15) Lazio (2.55)
21.45: (1.70) Roma (4.00) Fiorentina (4.80)
***odds are subject to change***