Donyell Malen Set for Roma Move After Aston Villa Loan

The Dutch forward will join the Italian club on a loan with an obligation to buy.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 8:45pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a soccer player in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the dynamic action of the game.Malen's move to Roma offers a fresh start and the chance to shine as a central striker, a role he believes suits him best.Today in Birmingham

Aston Villa forward Donyell Malen is poised to leave the Premier League club and join Serie A side AS Roma on a loan deal with an obligation to buy. The 26-year-old Dutch striker has agreed personal terms with the Italian club, and the entire transfer is valued at around €25 million (£21.65 million), including a €2 million loan fee. Malen has struggled for consistent playing time at Villa Park, where he was often deployed as a secondary striker behind Ollie Watkins. With the move to Roma, Malen will look to secure more minutes as a central striker, a role he believes suits him best.

Why it matters

This transfer represents an opportunity for Malen to reignite his career and showcase his talents as a central striker, a position he feels he can excel in. For Aston Villa, the move allows them to recoup a significant fee for a player who has not been a regular starter, and they can use those funds to pursue other attacking options, potentially including Tammy Abraham from Besiktas.

The details

Malen joined Aston Villa from Borussia Dortmund in January 2025 and made 14 appearances in the Premier League last season, scoring 3 goals. However, he has struggled to cement a starting role under manager Unai Emery, who has preferred to use Ollie Watkins as the central striker. With the move to Roma, Malen will have the chance to play in a more central role and potentially thrive in the Italian league.

  • Malen agreed personal terms with Roma on April 11, 2026.
  • The entire transfer deal is valued at around €25 million, including a €2 million loan fee.
  • Malen is expected to arrive in Rome on Wednesday to finalize the move.

The players

Donyell Malen

A 26-year-old Dutch forward who has been on loan at Aston Villa from Borussia Dortmund.

Unai Emery

The manager of Aston Villa, who has preferred to use Ollie Watkins as the central striker over Malen.

Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa's first-choice central striker, ahead of Malen in the pecking order.

Tammy Abraham

A potential target for Aston Villa, currently on loan at Besiktas from Roma.

Brian Madjo

A teenage striker Aston Villa have already signed from French side Metz.

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What they’re saying

“When deployed as a central striker, Malen's effectiveness seemed to dip, especially when not paired with Ollie Watkins.”

— Jacob Tanswell, Football reporter for The Athletic

What’s next

Aston Villa intends to bring in another forward during the transfer window, with Tammy Abraham being a potential option. However, securing a deal for Abraham may prove challenging due to his high earnings.

The takeaway

This transfer represents an opportunity for Donyell Malen to find more consistent playing time as a central striker, a role he believes suits him best. For Aston Villa, the move allows them to recoup a significant fee for a player who has not been a regular starter, and they can use those funds to pursue other attacking options.