Source: Retesport
Roma have completed the signing of defender Balerdi, arriving at Ciampino airport at 17:45 on 29 August for medical tests and to finalise his contract in the evening. The final details of the agreement were settled in the morning ahead of his arrival.
Balerdi joins on a loan deal with a right of purchase valued at €15 million, which can become an obligation under certain conditions. The transfer rounds out what the club describes as potentially the strongest defensive unit Roma have fielded in seven or eight years.
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Leonardo Balerdi arrived at Ciampino airport on 29 August to complete his move to AS Roma from Marseille. The Argentine defender touched down in the early evening and was greeted by supporters, who secured selfies with him before he proceeded to medical examinations and contract signing that same day. All three outlets confirm the deal was finalised after final details were settled that morning.
Roma have signed Balerdi on a loan arrangement worth approximately 1 million euros, with a right of purchase that converts to an obligation under certain conditions. The outlets differ slightly on the permanent transfer fee: Retesport and Forza Roma cite €15 million, while GialloRossi.net reports the figure sits between €15–18 million. Forza Roma specifies the obligation is conditional on appearances and European qualification. The move replaces Jan Ziółkowski, who departed to Monza, and addresses manager Gian Piero Gasperini's request for an experienced central defender rather than a prospect requiring development. Balerdi joins a defensive unit that now includes Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, Mario Hermoso, Daniele Ghilardi and Konstantinos Koulierakis. Retesport describes this as potentially Roma's strongest defensive line in seven or eight years. Barring complications in his medical, Balerdi will be available for squad selection once paperwork is finalised.
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Testo Originale / Source Text
“La Roma ha chiuso un altro affare per la difesa, completando forse il miglior reparto degli ultimi 7-8 anni. La società giallorossa ha infatti ottenuto l’ok definitivo per Balerdi. Sistemati in mattinata gli ultimi dettagli dell’accordo per l’italo-argentino, che è sbarcato alle 17:45 a Ciampino.…”
Read the full article in Italian at Retesport.
Defender Balerdi has arrived in Rome to complete his transfer to AS Roma. The Argentine was photographed at Ciampino airport with supporters as he touched down in the capital on 29 August, confirming the club's swift move in the market.
Roma are intensifying their pursuit of Zenit winger Luiz Henrique, with the club reportedly moving closer to the Russian side's valuation and now seeking to reach personal terms with the Brazilian. Luiz Henrique, 25, has emerged as a concrete target in the final phase of the transfer window after weeks dominated by other names. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has been seeking an attacking winger to complete his squad, and the player fits that requirement despite presenting a different profile to the one Roma have chased throughout the summer. Henrique is left-footed and plays primarily as a right winger, whereas Gasperini's stated preference has been for a right-footed attacker capable of playing from the left flank. However, his versatility—he can operate across the entire attacking line and play on the left or in a central position—offers the coach tactical flexibility as a tactical option. Roma are in direct contact with Zenit San Pietroburgo regarding a potential transfer. The player was proposed to the club, and Roma have now asked the Russian side to clarify the conditions and costs of any deal. According to reporting from Angelo Mangiante, Fabrizio Romano, Alfredo Pedullà, and Gianluca Di Marzio, negotiations are actively under way. The club has closed the gap between its own offer and Zenit's asking price and is now focused on securing the player's agreement to the move. The emerging path comes at a decisive moment in the market, following weeks when Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Malick Fofana dominated Roma's attention as targets. The coming hours will determine whether Roma intend to commit fully to Henrique or treat him merely as an alternative held in reserve.
Luiz Henrique has emerged as Roma's leading target for an attacking addition as the transfer window enters its final phase. The Zenit winger has overtaken Malick Fofana and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's list of priorities for the left-wing position. The Brazilian represents a change in approach: a natural left-footer rather than the right-footed winger originally sought to play on the left and cut infield. Roma and Zenit have reportedly reached an outline agreement on the fee and payment terms for the transfer. However, key details remain to be finalised between the clubs, and Luiz Henrique's personal approval of the move to Rome is still required. The acceleration on this avenue follows difficulties in Roma's pursuit of Chelsea's Bynoe-Gittens. With time running short, director Tony D'Amico is pursuing a more straightforward option that can be completed quickly and provide Gasperini with the offensive reinforcement needed. Fofana remains a possibility on the fringes, as does Bynoe-Gittens, but Luiz Henrique has made the decisive move in recent hours. According to Brazilian journalist Raisa Simplicio, the agreement with Zenit represents a significant first step. The focus now shifts to persuading the Brazilian himself to complete the transfer to the capital.