Roma puts €65 million on the table for Donyell Malen

Roma has activated a purchase option of up to €65 million for the 27‑year‑old Donyell Malen, who arrived on loan from Aston Villa in the winter and has already scored 14 goals in 18 matches, making him the current top scorer of Serie A.

Roma's motivation to buy Malen

Roma set a purchase option of up to €65 million for Malen after three other clubs expressed interest. The option was included in the loan agreement and would only be triggered if the club qualified for European competition. At the time of the winter transfer, however, Roma was already in a potential European position in Serie A.

Since his arrival, Malen has netted 14 goals in 18 games, making him the Serie A top scorer. In his first four matches he scored six times, a start that the club describes as fabulous. With a focus on everything that goes in and out of the net, he continuously works on his finishing.

Roma fans praise the 27‑year‑old striker and mention him in the same breath as Serie A icons such as Francesco Totti and Gabriel Batistuta. The admiration grows now that he is helping the club in the race for European places.

With the Dutch, Malen experienced a disappointing World Cup; he failed to score in the first group match against Japan and saw substitute Brian Brobbey score against Sweden and Tunisia. Ultimately, the Dutch national team was eliminated in the second round.

Malen grew up in Ajax's youth system but did not break into the first team. Arsenal showed interest and saw him as a versatile striker who could also operate on the wings, but the spell in London did not yield the desired results.

Premier League remains on the lookout

According to Hooligan Soccer, three Premier League clubs have set their sights on Malen: Arsenal tops the list, Chelsea is working on performance reports, and Manchester City, under the leadership of Enzo Maresca, sees him as a dangerous link for quick transitions. Arsenal is said to have already made informal contact to gauge the player's wishes for the winter transfer window in January 2027.

Roma maintains a strong bargaining position and views the large sums from the Premier League as attractive, but does not want to turn down a mega‑offer. The club understands that Malen himself has ambitions to prove himself against Aston Villa in the Premier League, possibly with a lucrative contract.

The Giallorossi are asking between €60 and €65 million, including a guaranteed net transfer fee, performance bonuses, and a sell‑on clause. A departure during the winter break will only be considered if a proposal fully meets these expectations.