AS Roma have secured the signing of Dutch international forward Donyell Malen from Aston Villa, completing a loan deal with a significant conditional obligation to buy and bringing the 26-year-old’s one-year stay in the Premier League to a close.
The Serie A club, currently fifth in the table under manager Gian Piero Gasperini, announced the move on Friday, January 16, 2026.
The transfer is structured as an initial loan, with Roma reportedly paying a fee of approximately £1.7 million (€2 million) to Aston Villa for the temporary move. The agreement includes a conditional obligation for Roma to make the deal permanent for a further £21.6 million (€25 million), which sources indicate becomes mandatory if the club qualifies for either the UEFA Champions League or Europa League this season.
This arrangement means Villa would recoup most of the initial investment they made to sign Malen from Borussia Dortmund just one year ago.
Malen’s departure from Aston Villa stems from a season of limited opportunity and tactical misalignment. Despite scoring 10 goals in 46 total appearances for the club, including seven this campaign, the forward started only five Premier League matches and found himself competing for minutes with Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, and others in Unai Emery’s attack.
“He wanted more minutes as the line-leading centre-forward, but manager Unai Emery regarded him as a second striker,” reported The Athletic, highlighting the fundamental disconnect that led to his exit. Sources close to the Villa dressing room expressed surprise at the January timing of the move, believing a summer transfer was more likely.
For Roma, the acquisition addresses an immediate need in their forward line as they push for a top-four finish. Malen, who has chosen the number 14 shirt, brings a pedigree of 104 career club goals from his time at PSV Eindhoven, Borussia Dortmund, and Aston Villa, alongside 13 goals in 49 caps for the Netherlands.
His arrival follows the recent signing of Robinio Vaz from Olympique Marseille, signaling an aggressive January window from sporting director Frederic Massara. The club moved swiftly to finalize the deal amid reported interest from other European sides like Atlético Madrid and Juventus.
The transfer could also have broader implications for the player market. Malen’s move to Italy has been linked to a potential return to Villa Park for Roma striker Tammy Abraham, who is currently on loan at Turkish club Besiktas. This would provide Villa with a direct replacement for the departed forward, filling a gap in their squad depth.
Malen is expected to join his new teammates immediately and could feature as soon as Roma’s upcoming Serie A match against Torino.
His arrival in the Italian capital marks a fresh start for a player seeking consistent playing time and a defined role, while providing Roma with a proven international attacker for their pursuit of European qualification.