Balerdi to replace Ziółkowski as Gasperini's experienced centre-back option

Franck Kessié has turned down a transfer to Juventus, his representatives told the Turin club in the final hours of negotiations. Sky Sport and Gianluca Di Marzio reported that no agreement could be reached between the parties. The Ivorian midfielder's refusal represents a significant setback for Juventus, who had continued working on the deal until the last moment. Roma's interest in Kessié has been discussed persistently in recent days. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini knows the midfielder well from their time together at Atalanta, and the club had expressed interest in bringing him to the Stadio Olimpico. However, the collapse of the Juventus deal does not automatically clear a path for Roma. The fundamental obstacle—Kessié's substantial wage demands, which complicated negotiations with Juventus—remains unresolved. Roma must determine whether they are willing and able to meet his financial requirements. Kessié has received economically significant offers from Saudi Arabia, but the Juventus rejection leaves his future entirely open. The Milan midfielder's next destination is now uncertain, with the viability of a move to Roma dependent on whether the club can satisfy his salary expectations.

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.

Leonardo Balerdi is set to become Roma's fifth summer signing, joining from Olympique Marseille on loan with a right of purchase that can become an obligation based on certain appearance thresholds. The Argentine defender, who holds Italian citizenship and was born in 1999, is expected to arrive imminently and will sign a contract through 2031. The deal is valued between €15 and €20 million in total and was completed in just over 48 hours through quiet negotiations by the Roma hierarchy. Bareldi's path to Roma stretches back years. In 2025, then-sporting director Ghisolfi pursued him, while last summer Gasperini specifically requested the signing. However, Marseille's valuation proved prohibitively high at that time; only now, with the French club needing to offload players, has the operation become feasible. Sporting director D'Amico had identified Balerdi while working with Gasperini at Atalanta in summer 2024, following a Europa League semi-final meeting between the clubs. That interest stalled over valuation concerns. D'Amico had also negotiated with Marseille over defender Aguerd in recent days, but the Moroccan declined a loan move, bringing Balerdi back into focus. At 27, Balerdi will join Roma's growing contingent of Argentine players at Trigoria: Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé, Santiago Castro and Nahuel Molina.

Roma's primary transfer priority with three days left in the summer window remains a left-sided winger, a position head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has requested for two years. Sporting director Tony D'Amico is targeting a swift conclusion, with two candidates in play: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Malick Fofana. Chelsea remains unwilling to loan out Gittens despite his peripheral status at the club, though Roma would be ready to move quickly if the Blues change their stance in the coming hours. The Fofana option remains on standby, with the Lyon winger hoping to complete a transfer after an agreement with Roma was reached roughly two weeks ago. Defensive moves are nearing completion, with Jan Ziółkowski departing to Monza and a new centre-back arriving, freeing resources for the attacking reinforcement. Fofana, the Belgian winger currently at Lyon, is waiting for the club to provide direction to his representatives. Lyon, who failed to qualify for the Champions League, are under pressure to sell and have been asked to lower their asking price. The class of 2005 is unlikely to move to Hull City, though other English clubs remain interested. Market expert Fabrizio Romano outlined both possibilities in a recent YouTube video. Roma have made contact with Fofana's camp and an agreement on personal terms has been struck, but the final sticking point is Lyon's valuation. The window closes in three days, making the next 48 hours critical for either deal to progress.

Roma have secured the arrival of Argentine defender Balerdi on a loan deal with a conditional right of redemption tied to appearances, worth approximately €20 million in total. The transfer was accelerated by sporting director D'Amico in recent hours as the club continues to reshape its defence ahead of the summer window's closure in three days. Simultaneously, Jan Ziółkowski departed on a season-long loan to Monza, also with a redemption clause fixed at €18 million. Gasperini's squad continues to prioritise reinforcements in defence while keeping attention on the left-sided attacking position. The club may defer investment on the wing until January, given the development of Emanuele Lulli and the pressing need to strengthen the forward line. Roma maintain strong pressure on Chelsea to secure winger Gittens on a loan transfer, with the two clubs in continuous contact to finalise the deal. An alternative target, Fofana, is also under consideration following Lyon's elimination from the Champions League, though the French club's asking price remains substantial and they require immediate payment. Balerdi's move is a loan arrangement with the redemption option conditioned by the number of appearances the defender makes. The clubs are in constant communication to settle all terms of the operation. The article was reported by Lorenzo Pes for Il Tempo.

Roma have shifted their defensive focus and are close to signing Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille as a replacement for Jan Ziółkowski. The Argentine centre-back will join on a paid loan of €1 million with a right of purchase that becomes an obligation once a set number of appearances is reached. Balerdi is an aggressive defender suited to operating in a three-man defence, strong in pressing and building from the back. Director Tony D'Amico and coach Gian Piero Gasperini are familiar with the 24-year-old; both considered him during summer 2024 at Atalanta after facing him in a Europa League semi-final, though that move fell through when Marseille's asking price was too high. Ziółkowski is being loaned out to Monza with a purchase option set at €18 million. The club will now shift their transfer focus entirely to recruiting an offensive left-winger, with Gittens top of their wish list and Fofana remaining in contention for the position.

Roma will learn the full league-phase schedule for the UEFA Champions League on 29 August, with the phase running from 8–10 September through 27 January. Real Madrid, Sporting, Lille and Slovan Bratislava will visit the Olimpico, while Roma travel to face PSG, Manchester United, Fenerbahçe and AEK Athens. The club has already sold 40,000 cup subscriptions, with the Curva Sud and Distinti Sud sections sold out. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini appears set to keep the starting eleven largely intact following Roma's convincing opening display against Fiorentina, fielding it again away at Lecce on Via del Mare. Rodrigo Mora is on course to start alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack, with a battle between Giorgio De Marzi and Nahuel Molina for the right-back position. Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, Mario Hermoso, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are expected to retain their places. Defence headaches persist: Devyne Rensch will miss the Lecce trip due to a left-flexor problem and continues treatment, while Lorenzo Pellegrini continues his recovery work on an individual programme.

Roma are intensifying their pursuit of attacking reinforcements as Gasperini's rebuild continues. Sporting director D'Amico is preparing a fresh attempt for Gittens while reassessing the Fofana situation after Lyon contacted the club this morning to enter talks; the offer exceeds €30 million but Roma have temporarily shelved that avenue. In defence, the club has accelerated negotiations with Marseille over Gianluca Balerdi and is close to sealing the deal. Balerdi, a versatile defender with strong distribution ability, can operate as backup to Evan N'Dicka or as the leading centre-back in Gasperini's three-man system following his spells under Tudor and De Zerbi. Meanwhile, Jan Ziolkowski will join Monza on loan with a purchase option set at €18 million, clearing space in Roma's defensive ranks after Nottingham Forest blocked the Morato route.

Roma are pursuing Marseille defender Leo Balerdi as they search for reinforcements in defence following the collapse of their move for Jayden Oosterwolde, who failed his second medical. Balerdi has approved the transfer, and Marseille have opened negotiations over a loan with an option to buy, with talks progressing positively. The move comes after Roma's failed attempt to sign Nottingham Forest's Morato, who the club could not acquire on loan. The departure of Jan Ziółkowski to Monza has left the Giallorossi needing a defender of Balerdi's profile. Balerdi would slot in as a rotation option behind Evan N'Dicka, who is expected to be a regular in the back three. Roma already have a strong Argentine contingent, and the centre-back would strengthen that group.