English Premier League club Aston Villa have reached an agreement with AS Roma for the transfer of Donyell Malen.
Coming into the January transfer window, Aston Villa were expected to make some changes to their squad. The club have been constantly constrained by the Premier League’s financial rules, so they would need to let go of a few players to make room for new ones.
Malen has been one of their dispensable players. He joined the club from German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund 12 months ago, but he has not gotten a lot of time to shine under Unai Emery.
The Dutch international has contributed 10 goals and two assists in 46 appearances since moving to the club. This season, he has featured in 29 games across all competitions, but most have been off the bench.
Coach Emery has preferred other strikers like Evan Guessand and Ollie Watkins instead. With his place as a starter not guaranteed, the 26-year-old has been open to the prospect of leaving Villa Park.
In the past month, there have been reports linking him with a possible transfer to Italian Serie A club AS Roma. The Serie A giants wasted little time in opening talks, as both parties have been on the negotiations table since the start of winter transfer market.
Now, according to football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, all the parties have reached an agreement for the deal to proceed.
Malen will join Roma in a six-month loan deal valued at €2 million. But there is also a mandatory purchase option that will see the Serie A club pay an extra €25 million at the expiration of the Dutchman’s loan.
This will be his first stint in Italy after previous stays in the Bundesliga, Premier League, and Eredivisie. Meanwhile, Roma currently sit 5th in the Serie, with 39 points from 20 games. They are four points behind leaders Inter Milan, but they will be hoping that Malen gives them a boost in the title challenge.
