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Donyell Malen has completed a loan move from Aston Villa to Roma after just one year at Villa Park, with the Serie A club securing a £21.6m option to buy the Netherlands forward permanently should certain conditions be met during his temporary spell.
Donyell Malen Completes Roma Loan Move From Aston Villa With £21.6m Buy Option
Roma have paid a loan fee of £1.7m to secure Malen’s services for the remainder of the season, with the permanent transfer option only activated if specific performance-related conditions are fulfilled. The 25-year-old forward could make his debut when Roma visit Torino in Serie A on Sunday, having completed all necessary paperwork and medical examinations.
The transfer may form part of a potential swap arrangement involving Tammy Abraham, who is currently on loan at Turkish side Besiktas from Roma but has been linked with a return to Aston Villa. Abraham previously spent a successful loan spell at Villa Park, and the clubs are reportedly exploring options to bring the England striker back to the Premier League.
Malen joined Villa in January 2025 following four years at Borussia Dortmund, making 46 appearances across all competitions and scoring seven goals during his 12-month stay in the Midlands. His departure comes as Villa continue to reshape their squad during the January transfer window, with manager Unai Emery seeking to balance the books while maintaining competitive strength.
Roma currently sit fifth in Serie A, seven points behind leaders Inter Milan, and will hope Malen’s pace and versatility can boost their push for European qualification. The Dutch international’s ability to play across the front line makes him an attractive option for Roma coach Claudio Ranieri, who has been seeking additional attacking depth to support the club’s ambitions in both domestic and continental competitions.
