Roma And Aston Villa Reach Agreement Over Donyell Malen
The Netherlands forward could be on his way to Roma soon.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 12 January 2026
Roma have reached an agreement in principle with Aston Villa for forward Donyell Malen, according to reports in Italy.
The Giallorossi have been in pursuit of new forwards in the January transfer window as they look to bolster their ranks.
And with Evan Ferguson suffering an injury, Roma’s need for attacking reinforcements has become even greater.
Roma like Giacomo Raspadori, but with no breakthrough on the horizon, the Giallorossi are looking at alternatives.
Roma agree Donyell Malen loan with €25-30m option to buy
According to Sky Italia, Roma have reached a basic agreement with Aston Villa on an initial loan deal for Malen.
The proposed deal is a loan with an option to buy, with the purchase price set between €25m and €30m.
Sky add that Roma are now waiting for Malen to say yes to the move before the transfer can be completed.
If it goes through, it would be the second deal between the clubs in a short time, after Roma brought Leon Bailey in on loan last summer.
Links between Roma and Malen only began in recent days, but things seem to be moving along quickly.
What Malen could bring to Roma
Malen is a player in his prime years who boasts considerable experience in top leagues, as well as in European competitions.
Villa signed the 27-year-old a year ago after his spell at Borussia Dortmund, where he scored 39 goals and added 20 assists in 132 games.
In England, Malen scored three goals in his first six months, then added seven more this season across all competitions.
If these Donyell Malen rumours are true .. I will genuinely be gutted .. 🦁
I really like what he’s brought to Villa since joining last January.#mondaythoughts— Katharine Merry (@KatharineMerry) January 12, 2026
Roma believe the €25m Villa man’s pace and direct running can add a different threat, especially when matches become tight.
The officialy Bundesliga website previously compared Malen to Belgian cult hero Eden Hazard.
‘Malen is almost the complete package when you think of a modern-day forward,’ they wrote of the then Dortmund ace.
‘Malen combines his incredible speed and technical ability on the ball with an eye for goal and aptitude for defensive work.
‘He is reminiscent of former Chelsea great Eden Hazard, whose squat dribbling style and long-range shooting made him a nightmare for defenders.’
Elsewhere, Roma’s Robinio Vaz deal is now said to be “very close” to completion.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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