Balerdi arrives in Rome: Argentine defender to land at Ciampino at 17:40

Roma have made a late move for Luiz Henrique, the 25-year-old Brazilian left winger at Zenit, in the closing days of the transfer window. The name has surprised supporters unfamiliar with the player, prompting scrutiny of both his profile and fit at the club. Luiz Henrique is a physically powerful, left-footed winger standing 1.82 metres tall, naturally positioned on the right flank where he receives the ball wide, takes on defenders and cuts inside onto his left foot. That presents an immediate puzzle: Roma spent much of the summer hunting a left winger with a right foot, the inverse of Henrique's natural characteristics. He grew up at Fluminense before two seasons in Spain with Betis without establishing himself. His trajectory changed in 2024 when he returned to Brazil to join Botafogo, where he enjoyed the best season of his career. He won both the Brasileirão and Copa Libertadores, becoming a central figure in the squad and earning awards as South America's player of the year. That form earned him a Brazil cap and a move to Zenit in January 2025 for approximately 35 million euros. Henrique is not a lightweight winger relying on technique and flair. He is a powerful, quick, hard-to-shift operator in duels with a capacity for consistent dribbling. When he drives forward in progression he can create numerical superiority almost alone, and his physical traits appeal to Gasperini. He is not, however, a prolific scorer; he has quality in the final third but has never posted numbers of a 15–20 goal-a-season attacker. He can play on the left—Zenit has deployed him there with good results—but it remains an adaptation from his natural position. From that flank, being left-footed, he tends to drift to the byline or play combination passes rather than cut inward toward goal as players like Fofana, Nusa or Summerville would. Roma's initial pursuit focused on a right-footed left winger capable of cutting inside. Henrique does not match that profile. However, with days remaining in August, the club may be forced to compromise: if the ideal target is unattainable at the desired cost, availability and possible terms, Roma must broaden the search and evaluate alternatives. Henrique fits that logic—a player of genuine quality potentially within reach on the club's conditions, rather than Gasperini's original conception of the role.

Frank Kessié is close to returning to Atalanta rather than joining Roma or Juventus. Juventus ended their pursuit of the Ivorian midfielder today, while Roma never made a serious move for him. The costs involved—salary, signing bonus and agent fees—proved too high for Roma to pursue, and a move to the capital was never a hot prospect for the club. Roma have no current intention to sign a midfielder unless Neil El Aynaoui departs. Should he leave, the club will not accept loan offers and will only entertain a permanent sale. Juventus' withdrawal from negotiations today clears the path for Kessié's switch to Atalanta.

Roma have advanced unexpectedly for Zenit forward Luiz Henrique, 25, a name not previously linked with the club's attack this summer. The Brazilian, a former Betis player, scored the equaliser in a 1–1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico and has been put forward to the Giallorossi in recent hours. Negotiations are underway on the terms with Zenit, who valued him at approximately €40 million at the start of the transfer window. The left-footed forward, noted for his physical presence, would complete the offensive department as Roma encounter difficulty closing other preferred targets such as Fofana and Gittens. According to Fabrizio Romano, the club is actively working on a structure with the Russian club to bring in reinforcement in attack.

Roma will not strengthen their wing-back options before the transfer window closes, barring late surprises. With Devyne Rensch sidelined by a left flexor injury, Gian Piero Gasperini will rely on four defenders to cover the flanks until January: Giorgio De Marzi and Nahuel Molina on the right, and Wesley on the left. Molina featured prominently in Roma's opening match against Fiorentina last Monday, while Lulli has also impressed in recent action. The Oosterwolde deal collapsed following additional medical checks, and with Balerdi's arrival imminent to complete the centre-back contingent, Roma have decided against further recruitment in the defensive ranks. The club's focus has instead shifted to signing an attacking left winger rather than a fourth midfield full-back, a decision made in light of the positive performances from Lulli. Any further wing signings remain possible in the final days of the market, but none is planned at present.

Roma could decide against replacing Jayden Oosterwolde after the failed Fenerbahce deal, with the club reassessing its transfer priorities as the market approaches closure. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's evaluation has shifted following Emanuele Lulli's impressive debut against Fiorentina. The young player could provide an additional option at right wing alongside Nahuel Molina, while on the left the coach can rely on Wesley and Devyne Rensch, potentially making an immediate wide signing unnecessary. Roma may instead retain their current wide options and defer any further investment in that area to January. Lulli's performance has prompted a tactical reassessment at board level, with director D'Amico and Gasperini prioritizing differently than anticipated. The club could still act if a particularly attractive opportunity arises in the closing days, but a second winger is no longer viewed as an urgent priority. Instead, Roma's final market efforts are likely to concentrate on the position Gasperini considers genuinely essential: a left-footed right-wing forward. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Malick Fofana remain the leading targets on that agenda. Following the Balerdi situation, the club appears ready to channel its remaining significant effort exclusively into offensive reinforcement.

Roma are closing in on the arrival of defender Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille, with the Argentine player expected to land in Italy today ahead of the summer transfer window's closure at 20:00 on 1 September. The deal is a loan with a conditional right of riscatto tied to appearances. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports the loan fee at approximately €2 million with a conditional riscatto around €15 million; Il Messaggero states the loan fee at €1 million with a conditional riscatto around €20 million. On riscatto, Balerdi would sign a contract through 2031. The transfer has been delayed by complex financial and administrative matters at Marseille, with former player Balzaretti, now the French club's vice-director of sport, among those handling negotiations. With Balerdi's arrival largely resolved, Roma's focus has shifted entirely to securing a left winger. Jarrett Gittens remains the preferred target, though Chelsea have not yet opened the door to a loan deal; Roma have reportedly proposed a riscatto tied to appearances. Yoane Webo of Lyon is also in contention, though his valuation remains high following Lyon's failure to qualify for the Champions League, and the French club is demanding a permanent sale rather than a loan. Mohamed Fofana has drifted further away, with Hull City and Sunderland now pursuing him; Zenit's Luiz Henrique has emerged as a new option. Roma's transfer activity extends across multiple areas. The club has received offers for Neil El Aynaoui, according to Alfredo Pedullà, though loan proposals from Crystal Palace and German clubs have dominated so far. Salary, signing bonuses and agent fees are making a permanent departure difficult. Roma have also made enquiries about Ecuadorian playmaker Arroyo, a left-footed class-of-2006 talent at Cruzeiro, though the Brazilian club have no intention of selling. Frank Kessié, the Ivorian midfielder now available on a free transfer after rejecting a move to Juventus, remains a possibility if Roma can first move Neil El Aynaoui on, though Il Messaggero reports that prospect as similarly complicated. Roma have denied interest in Kessié via an official statement from their training ground. Unless late opportunities emerge, Roma will not be adding to their full-back contingent following the collapse of negotiations for Oosterwolde, leaving Gasperini with Wesley, Molina, Rensch and Lulli. The left-winger search continues as the 1 September deadline approaches.