Castro becomes Roma's fifth-most expensive signing in club history

Roma are on the verge of completing their first summer transfer. Santiago Castro will arrive from Bologna, with Artem Dovbyk heading in the opposite direction on loan to join Tedesco's squad. The deal represents Roma's opening move in the transfer window. Dovbyk, who joined Roma last season, will step aside to make room for Castro's arrival. The loan move offers the Ukrainian striker a fresh start while freeing up space in the squad for the incoming Bologna forward. This swap deal resolves both clubs' needs in attack within a single transaction. Elsewhere, Rome's mayor Gualtieri and Sessa discussed progress on the new stadium project during an administrative briefing. In national team news, Andrea Pirlo announced via Instagram that he will not take the Italy job.

Santiago Castro has completed his move to Roma from Bologna for €35 million including bonuses on a five-year contract. The Argentine striker will arrive at Termini station around 23:45 this evening before undergoing medical examinations tomorrow and signing his deal. His arrival triggers Artem Dovbyk's departure to Bologna on a loan with a purchase option, with the Ukrainian's €3.5 million salary covered by the Emilian club. Dovbyk will travel to Bologna tomorrow for his medical. Castro's signing marks Roma's primary attacking reinforcement ahead of the new season, particularly with Champions League football on the horizon. Gasperini has prioritised two strong forward options, and club sources confirm Roma rejected a loan approach for Robinio Vaz before Bologna proposed Dovbyk as an alternative. Roma's hierarchy has also made Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract renewal a priority. Following recent signings of Dybala, Mancini, and Cristante, the club aims to extend Pellegrini's deal before the squad departs for a pre-season training camp in Wales. Pellegrini's new contract is projected to run until 2028 with an optional further season, offering €2.5 million annually plus bonuses. Rome's mayor Gualtieri confirmed progress on the new Stadio della Roma at Pietralata. At an institutional meeting on Friday involving Regional President Rocca and ministers Abodi and Salvini, Gualtieri stated: "Today we make another leap forward in the procedures for stadium construction. An entire area regeneration with a stadium at its centre that will have the world's largest Curva and will be a joy for all sports fans. The services conference will be concluded by September." Roma legend Roberto Pruzzo praised Castro as "a great player, strong" with quality to play centre-forward or provide assists.

AS Roma Femminile announced the end of Giulia Dragoni's loan spell, with the 2006-born midfielder returning to Barcelona, her parent club. In her place, the club confirmed the return of striker Martina Piemonte on a three-year contract until 2029, and the arrival of Finnish forward Sofia Jahnukainen on a deal through 2030. Piemonte previously played for Roma in the 2018–19 season, making 22 appearances and scoring 6 goals. She will wear number 18. Piemonte spent the last two seasons with Lazio before rejoining the Giallorossi. The Italian striker, who has represented Italy at youth and senior level since 2012, expressed her emotional attachment to the club. "It is the first squad I have returned to play for," she said. "Roma has always been a special team for me. I arrived here at 18 or 19 years old and my best friend was here too, who sadly is no longer with us. Roma means so many things to me. I am excited and it is truly wonderful to be back." She added: "I don't like having expectations. I want to enjoy this moment and this experience. I want to live Roma day by day, enjoying every second as if it were the last." Jahnukainen, born in 2006, began her career at Keski Uusimaa in Tuusula before joining HPS Helsinki. Over the past two seasons at HJK, she accumulated 6 goals and 10 assists.

Roma are on the verge of completing their first summer transfer. Santiago Castro will arrive from Bologna, with Artem Dovbyk heading in the opposite direction on loan to join Tedesco's squad. The deal represents Roma's opening move in the transfer window. Dovbyk, who joined Roma last season, will step aside to make room for Castro's arrival. The loan move offers the Ukrainian striker a fresh start while freeing up space in the squad for the incoming Bologna forward. This swap deal resolves both clubs' needs in attack within a single transaction. Elsewhere, Rome's mayor Gualtieri and Sessa discussed progress on the new stadium project during an administrative briefing. In national team news, Andrea Pirlo announced via Instagram that he will not take the Italy job.

Santiago Castro has completed his move to Roma from Bologna for €35 million including bonuses on a five-year contract. The Argentine striker will arrive at Termini station around 23:45 this evening before undergoing medical examinations tomorrow and signing his deal. His arrival triggers Artem Dovbyk's departure to Bologna on a loan with a purchase option, with the Ukrainian's €3.5 million salary covered by the Emilian club. Dovbyk will travel to Bologna tomorrow for his medical. Castro's signing marks Roma's primary attacking reinforcement ahead of the new season, particularly with Champions League football on the horizon. Gasperini has prioritised two strong forward options, and club sources confirm Roma rejected a loan approach for Robinio Vaz before Bologna proposed Dovbyk as an alternative. Roma's hierarchy has also made Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract renewal a priority. Following recent signings of Dybala, Mancini, and Cristante, the club aims to extend Pellegrini's deal before the squad departs for a pre-season training camp in Wales. Pellegrini's new contract is projected to run until 2028 with an optional further season, offering €2.5 million annually plus bonuses. Rome's mayor Gualtieri confirmed progress on the new Stadio della Roma at Pietralata. At an institutional meeting on Friday involving Regional President Rocca and ministers Abodi and Salvini, Gualtieri stated: "Today we make another leap forward in the procedures for stadium construction. An entire area regeneration with a stadium at its centre that will have the world's largest Curva and will be a joy for all sports fans. The services conference will be concluded by September." Roma legend Roberto Pruzzo praised Castro as "a great player, strong" with quality to play centre-forward or provide assists.

Santiago Castro will arrive in the Italian capital this evening to complete his transfer from Bologna to Roma. The Argentine forward is expected to reach Rome's central station around 23:45 on 27 July, with medical examinations and contract signing scheduled for 28 July. Roma have agreed a deal worth €35 million plus bonuses with Bologna, which includes the loan of Artem Dovbyk to the Emilia-Romagna club. Castro, born in 2004, has already agreed terms with Roma on a contract running until 2031 worth €2.2 million per season plus bonuses. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini wanted the forward to join immediately so he would be available for the squad's upcoming training camp in Wales. The deal also includes a percentage on any future sale. Castro had given his approval to Gasperini two days before the final agreement was struck. The transfer represents Roma's first major signing of the summer window. The club's director of sport D'Amico targeted completion on 26 July to get the player integrated into the squad as quickly as possible. Castro will travel with the team to Wales once formalities are concluded.

Roma drew 3-3 with Cannes at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin in a pre-season friendly under Gian Piero Gasperini. Paulo Dybala opened the scoring with a free-kick before Donyell Malen doubled the lead, but Roma were reduced to ten men when Wesley received a second yellow card. After the interval, Dybala added a second goal to make it 3-0, but Cannes mounted a comeback through Lopes, who scored twice including one from the penalty spot, and Oggad to level the match in the closing stages. This was Roma's third summer friendly and demonstrated both attacking prowess and defensive vulnerability during the preparation period. The match showcased contributions from two key squad members in Dybala and Malen, though the late collapse and numerical disadvantage highlighted areas for improvement as Gasperini continues his pre-season work.

Roma have completed their first significant transfer move of the window, securing striker Castro. While the signings of Greenwood and Summerville fell through, the acquisition of the 21-year-old Argentine represents a strategically sound addition rather than a consolation prize. Castro addresses multiple needs in Gasperini's squad. First, Roma required an alternative to Malen ahead of their Champions League return, with the coach known for his demanding approach to substitutions. Second, Castro operates across the entire attacking front and can partner with the Dutch winger rather than simply replace him—a model proven at Atalanta, where Zapata and Muriel played alongside one another. Third, Castro has already proven his worth in Italian football, scoring double figures over the past two seasons across league and cup competitions while contributing thirteen assists, demonstrating his capacity to function in a more robust front line if needed. The 21-year-old's credentials extend beyond club form. He featured in Argentina's pre-World Cup selection despite competing with world-class attackers for national team places. By contrast, Retegui managed just seven goals at Genoa before becoming a prolific scorer at Bergamo—a trajectory that underscores Castro's superior track record in Serie A.

Gian Piero Gasperini will reconvene the Roma squad on Wednesday afternoon at the Fulvio Bernardini training ground following a two-day rest period after the friendly against Cannes. The squad has completed a series of summer warm-up fixtures: two joint training sessions with the Primavera, a test with Trastevere, and the friendly with Cannes. Paulo Dybala has impressed during the pre-season programme, scoring a brace against the Primavera, one goal against Trastevere, and two more in the 3–3 draw with Cannes, while working on his understanding with Donyell Malen, who recently returned to Trigoria. Roma will continue their preparation in Wales from 31 July, where they face Cardiff (1 August), Newport (4 August), and Brighton (8 August) in further friendlies before a prestige test against Borussia Dortmund in Germany on 15 August. The Serie A campaign begins on 24 August at the Olimpico against Fiorentina. Dybala, fresh from a contract renewal, enters his fifth season at Roma after sealing Champions League qualification in the final stretch of last season. El Aynaoui is expected to rejoin the squad on 30 July, while Manu Koné remains on holiday and will link up with the group in August subject to the transfer market.