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Balerdi to land at Ciampino at 17:45 as Roma complete defensive signing
·29 August 2026·7h ago

Balerdi to land at Ciampino at 17:45 as Roma complete defensive signing

Source: Retesport

Roma have completed the signing of Balerdi, with the defender set to arrive at Rome's Ciampino airport at 17:45 today. The final details of the agreement were settled this morning, securing what the club views as a significant reinforcement to their backline—capping off what may be Roma's strongest defensive recruitment in seven or eight years.

Bareldi arrives on loan with a right of purchase valued at €15 million, with the obligation to buy potentially triggered by specific conditions being met. The addition completes a defensive overhaul the club believes positions them competitively for the season ahead.

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Roma have completed the signing of Leonardo Balerdi, the Argentine centre-back from Olympique Marseille, on a loan deal with a conditional right of redemption. The 28-year-old is expected to arrive at Ciampino airport at 17:45 today to undergo medical examinations before joining the squad. Balerdi holds both Argentine and Italian citizenship, meaning he will not occupy a non-EU squad slot, and his contract with Marseille runs until 2031. The transfer addresses Roma's defensive needs following Jan Ziółkowski's season-long loan departure to Monza, also with a redemption clause.

The outlets differ on the financial structure. Retesport reports the redemption clause valued at €15 million, while Forza Roma cites approximately €20 million in total value with the fee conditioned by appearances. The signing caps what Retesport describes as Roma's strongest defensive recruitment in seven or eight years. Balerdi's arrival will expand Roma's Argentine contingent to five players, joining Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé, Nahuel Molina, and Santiago Castro—reportedly the largest cohesive foreign group in the club's history.

Manager Gian Piero Gasperini views Balerdi as a defender with proven personality and commitment to regular first-team football. Meanwhile, Roma continue pressing Chelsea over a loan move for winger Gittens, with the two clubs in continuous contact. The club may defer investment on the left-sided attacking position until January, though French side Lyon's Fofana remains an alternative target.

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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 sbarcherà alle 17:45 a Ciampino. …

Read the full article in Italian at Retesport.

Read original on Retesport

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