Dutch forward Donyell Malen has completed a switch to AS Roma, ending his brief spell at Aston Villa after only one season in the Premier League.
Roma confirmed that the deal is a loan move with an option to make the transfer permanent, though Aston Villa did not reveal the financial details. Reports indicate that the option could become an obligation if certain performance-related conditions are met.
Malen, 26, joined Villa from Borussia Dortmund in January 2025 and scored 10 goals in 46 appearances across all competitions. Although he has netted seven times this season, he struggled to secure a consistent starting role, making just five league starts in 21 appearances under manager Unai Emery.
Currently fifth in Serie A, Roma announced that Malen will wear the number 14 shirt. The attacker has spent the past few days in Rome completing the transfer and is believed to have been persuaded by the promise of regular playing time in a central attacking role.
Italian media reports suggest Roma will pay a loan fee of about £1.7 million, with an additional £21.6 million payable if the move becomes permanent. Atletico Madrid and Juventus were also said to be interested before Roma finalised the deal.
A former youth player at Ajax and Arsenal, Malen began his senior career at PSV Eindhoven before moving to Dortmund in 2021. He has scored 104 goals in 294 club appearances and has registered 13 goals in 49 caps for the Netherlands.
His exit leaves Aston Villa short of central attacking options. Emery is now relying on Ollie Watkins and Evann Guessand as his main strikers, with neither yet to score in the Premier League this season.
Villa are also monitoring the situation of Roma striker Tammy Abraham, who is currently on loan at Besiktas, while moves for young forwards Brian Madjo from Metz and Alysson from Gremio are viewed as long-term investments rather than immediate fixes.