De Roon lands at Fiumicino at 12:10 today; Balerdi officially announced

Roma are working to finalise an attacking reinforcement in the coming hours. The club is attempting to close a deal with Zenit for Luiz Henrique on the basis of a paid loan worth €5 million with a purchase option set at €30 million.

Gian Piero Gasperini held a pre-match press conference ahead of Lecce–Roma on 31 August 2026, addressing the signing of Marten de Roon from Atalanta and the club's remaining transfer business. De Roon's arrival came together rapidly over 24–48 hours after he fell out of Atalanta's plans following many years at the club. "He wanted to come to Roma very strongly," Gasperini said. "For us it is an opportunity that allows us to give El Aynaoui the chance to have another experience. Economically it is very important because it gives us the opportunity to bring interest into another role." The move also allows Roma to add depth to their defence with another captain alongside new arrival Balerdi, while the physical strength these signings bring will help compensate for having too many Argentine players in the squad, Gasperini added. Gasperini reported that only Lorenzo Pellegrini and Devyne Rensch are unavailable, with Rensch expected to rejoin the group on Tuesday and Pellegrini returning next week. He confirmed Roma still need to complete their squad before the transfer window closes on Tuesday with a left-sided defender and an attacking winger. "We have always looked for a left-back and an outside attacker," he said. "If we can take two we would be 21 in the squad plus the goalkeepers." He noted that Matías Soulé can play on the left if needed, having done so under former manager Claudio Ranieri, but he prefers the Argentine higher up the pitch. Roma's financial restrictions under Financial Fair Play rules have prevented them from matching certain contract offers from rivals, though Gasperini praised the spirit of those who joined despite lower wages: "The level of contracts could not exceed a certain ceiling. We must thank all those who came back specifically to play for Roma, and this is a great spirit, and you do not buy it in the market." On the Champions League draw and upcoming fixtures, Gasperini said: "I believe they are all prestige matches; we have drawn a good group. We will go away in hot and difficult stadiums. This is the Champions League. The objective is to stay inside the play-offs. Beyond the sporting result, it will be nice to breathe the air of the Champions League, to play in extraordinary stadiums, with Real Madrid. I believe it will enrich the squad greatly." He defended the De Roon transfer against potential fan concerns: "When you know him he is a solid person. I explained how the operation was born, and it gives us the chance to have a valuable player. It is not a prospect, but it gives us the opportunity to concentrate our efforts in another role." Regarding Nahuel Molina's fitness, Gasperini said the defender "is better, he had a good week of training. He played the World Cup final, it is just a question of finding some condition. Tomorrow he will be part of the match, I do not know if at the start or during the game." The window closes on Tuesday; once it does, Gasperini said, "finally we can talk about football."

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference on 30 August ahead of Roma's visit to Lecce in the second round of Serie A on 31 August at 18:30. The coach defended his recruitment of de Roon from Atalanta, explaining the move came together swiftly. "It happened very quickly, within 24–48 hours," Gasperini said. "He had that situation with Atalanta, after many years he was no longer in their plans, and there was this opportunity. I got in touch with Luca Percassi and they, for all the player has done over the years, gave him the freedom to decide and we thank them. He wanted to come to Roma very strongly. It allowed us to give El Aynaoui the chance to feel more valued. It's also economically important because it lets us bring interest to another role and we fill midfield with an intact player even if he is advanced in age. But he will enter a truly strong group that wants to be a protagonist." Gasperini also addressed the arrival of Balerdi, describing both signings as adding experience and personality. He acknowledged Roma's financial constraints: "The Roma has been hit by FFP and had to lower the wage bill necessarily. Certain players we aspired to be even stronger were not possible to reach, more a matter of contracts than spending. The club was available, but we could not go beyond a certain cap. We must thank everyone who came back to play at Roma. This is a great spirit, not something you buy on the market but something you build inside, and in this respect we are among the very first if not the first." On the squad's readiness, Gasperini confirmed that only Lorenzo Pellegrini and Devyne Rensch were unavailable, with Rensch expected to rejoin training on Tuesday and Pellegrini the following week. He rejected suggestions that Matías Soulé could leave: "I have never heard of a single offer for Soulé, not one all summer, like for other players discussed. Tomorrow he probably plays, but there is nothing concrete. And from his side there has been nothing in this sense either." Gasperini confirmed he expects Roma to add one more attacker and a left-footed full-back before the window closes. On Nahuel Molina's fitness after playing in the World Cup final, he said: "Much better, he had a good week of training. It's a question of finding condition. Tomorrow he will be part of the match, I don't know if from the start or during play, but he is able to play." Gasperini praised Roma's Champions League draw, naming Parisian, Athenian, Istanbul and Manchester venues as tests ahead. "It's the Champions," he said. "The objective is certainly to stay inside, in the play-offs. The result will help the squad breathe Champions League air, go to these stadiums, play extraordinary matches in our stadium, like against Real. It can be a beautiful season and I think it will enrich the squad greatly, because you face the best and we must carry that inside us even in the league to do better."

Gian Piero Gasperini held a pre-match press conference ahead of Lecce–Roma on 31 August 2026, addressing the signing of Marten de Roon from Atalanta and the club's remaining transfer business. De Roon's arrival came together rapidly over 24–48 hours after he fell out of Atalanta's plans following many years at the club. "He wanted to come to Roma very strongly," Gasperini said. "For us it is an opportunity that allows us to give El Aynaoui the chance to have another experience. Economically it is very important because it gives us the opportunity to bring interest into another role." The move also allows Roma to add depth to their defence with another captain alongside new arrival Balerdi, while the physical strength these signings bring will help compensate for having too many Argentine players in the squad, Gasperini added. Gasperini reported that only Lorenzo Pellegrini and Devyne Rensch are unavailable, with Rensch expected to rejoin the group on Tuesday and Pellegrini returning next week. He confirmed Roma still need to complete their squad before the transfer window closes on Tuesday with a left-sided defender and an attacking winger. "We have always looked for a left-back and an outside attacker," he said. "If we can take two we would be 21 in the squad plus the goalkeepers." He noted that Matías Soulé can play on the left if needed, having done so under former manager Claudio Ranieri, but he prefers the Argentine higher up the pitch. Roma's financial restrictions under Financial Fair Play rules have prevented them from matching certain contract offers from rivals, though Gasperini praised the spirit of those who joined despite lower wages: "The level of contracts could not exceed a certain ceiling. We must thank all those who came back specifically to play for Roma, and this is a great spirit, and you do not buy it in the market." On the Champions League draw and upcoming fixtures, Gasperini said: "I believe they are all prestige matches; we have drawn a good group. We will go away in hot and difficult stadiums. This is the Champions League. The objective is to stay inside the play-offs. Beyond the sporting result, it will be nice to breathe the air of the Champions League, to play in extraordinary stadiums, with Real Madrid. I believe it will enrich the squad greatly." He defended the De Roon transfer against potential fan concerns: "When you know him he is a solid person. I explained how the operation was born, and it gives us the chance to have a valuable player. It is not a prospect, but it gives us the opportunity to concentrate our efforts in another role." Regarding Nahuel Molina's fitness, Gasperini said the defender "is better, he had a good week of training. He played the World Cup final, it is just a question of finding some condition. Tomorrow he will be part of the match, I do not know if at the start or during the game." The window closes on Tuesday; once it does, Gasperini said, "finally we can talk about football."

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference on 30 August ahead of Roma's visit to Lecce in the second round of Serie A on 31 August at 18:30. The coach defended his recruitment of de Roon from Atalanta, explaining the move came together swiftly. "It happened very quickly, within 24–48 hours," Gasperini said. "He had that situation with Atalanta, after many years he was no longer in their plans, and there was this opportunity. I got in touch with Luca Percassi and they, for all the player has done over the years, gave him the freedom to decide and we thank them. He wanted to come to Roma very strongly. It allowed us to give El Aynaoui the chance to feel more valued. It's also economically important because it lets us bring interest to another role and we fill midfield with an intact player even if he is advanced in age. But he will enter a truly strong group that wants to be a protagonist." Gasperini also addressed the arrival of Balerdi, describing both signings as adding experience and personality. He acknowledged Roma's financial constraints: "The Roma has been hit by FFP and had to lower the wage bill necessarily. Certain players we aspired to be even stronger were not possible to reach, more a matter of contracts than spending. The club was available, but we could not go beyond a certain cap. We must thank everyone who came back to play at Roma. This is a great spirit, not something you buy on the market but something you build inside, and in this respect we are among the very first if not the first." On the squad's readiness, Gasperini confirmed that only Lorenzo Pellegrini and Devyne Rensch were unavailable, with Rensch expected to rejoin training on Tuesday and Pellegrini the following week. He rejected suggestions that Matías Soulé could leave: "I have never heard of a single offer for Soulé, not one all summer, like for other players discussed. Tomorrow he probably plays, but there is nothing concrete. And from his side there has been nothing in this sense either." Gasperini confirmed he expects Roma to add one more attacker and a left-footed full-back before the window closes. On Nahuel Molina's fitness after playing in the World Cup final, he said: "Much better, he had a good week of training. It's a question of finding condition. Tomorrow he will be part of the match, I don't know if from the start or during play, but he is able to play." Gasperini praised Roma's Champions League draw, naming Parisian, Athenian, Istanbul and Manchester venues as tests ahead. "It's the Champions," he said. "The objective is certainly to stay inside, in the play-offs. The result will help the squad breathe Champions League air, go to these stadiums, play extraordinary matches in our stadium, like against Real. It can be a beautiful season and I think it will enrich the squad greatly, because you face the best and we must carry that inside us even in the league to do better."

Marten de Roon has arrived in Rome to complete his transfer from Atalanta on 30 August 2026. The 1991-born Dutch midfielder communicated his wish to join Roma to Atalanta late on 29 August, and the two clubs agreed a deal worth 1 million euros. De Roon will reunite with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and join fellow Dutch players Devyne Rensch and Donyell Malen in the squad, as well as gain access to Champions League football. De Roon considered his time at Atalanta finished and had been in talks with Bologna before Gasperini moved decisively for him. The move became possible after Roma secured the departure of Neil El Aynaoui to RB Leipzig. Speaking at Atalanta's training ground that morning, de Roon said: "For me it is a sad and difficult day, even though I should be happy. I spoke to Gasperini, it was all a bit of a lightning bolt. He wanted me strongly at Roma, and given how things were here it was the right solution." Medical examinations and contract signing were scheduled to follow his midday arrival at Fiumicino airport.

Roma's transfer activity intensified on 30 August with multiple offensive reinforcements under discussion as the window entered its final phase. Matías Soulé's future became a central issue, with Fulham and Sunderland both reportedly interested in a loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy for a combined valuation around €35 million. Should Soulé depart, Roma intend to sign two new attacking players to complete the squad for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Luiz Henrique of Zenit emerged as a primary target. Reports differed on the structure of a potential deal, with some sources citing a permanent transfer worth €30 million plus €5 million in bonuses, while others described a costly loan of €3–4 million with a subsequent buy option between €22 million and €25 million. A third account suggested the Russian club was demanding €35 million plus a percentage of future sales, with negotiations also stalled over wages. Contact between the clubs had entered active discussions. Jamie Leweling, the Stuttgart winger, remained under observation and could become a concrete objective, as the player can operate both in advanced positions and across the flank. Keny Arroyo, a 20-year-old Cruzeiro winger from Ecuador, was flagged as an alternative option being tracked through intermediaries. Robinio Vaz, the 19-year-old French forward on loan at Hull City, faced a slowdown in his departure. Roma had given approval for his exit but Gasperini refused to release him until the club completed the purchase of a new attacking player. Once that signing was finalised, Vaz was expected to move to Hull on a costly loan with a right of redemption. Malick Fofana, the 21-year-old Lyon midfielder, remained a possibility but the path proved difficult—Roma had previously agreed with Lyon on €35 million plus terms with the player, but the French club now insisted on a permanent sale and rejected conditional loan-and-option structures. Jan Ziółkowski, the 21-year-old Polish defender, departed on loan with a right of redemption to Monza following the arrival of Balerdi, a new Argentine centre-back who would assume his squad number. Roma also invested in youth development, acquiring 18-year-old Montenegrin midfielder Andrija Vukoje from Inter's youth sector for approximately €1.5 million plus performance bonuses and a percentage of future sales benefitting Inter. Vukoje would initially join Roma's Primavera squad.

Robinio Vaz's move to Hull City has stalled after head coach Gian Piero Gasperini halted the transfer, according to reports. The French forward had come close to joining the newly promoted Premier League club on a loan with a purchase option, and the agreement between Roma and Hull City was complete. However, Gasperini has blocked the departure pending the arrival of a new attacking left winger. Today, 30 August, a call is scheduled between Vaz and Hull City to obtain the final answer from the 2007-born forward. The agreement between the two clubs is not the issue; Roma is awaiting Vaz's definitive approval to proceed with the move.

Leonardo Balerdi landed at Ciampino on 29 August and became Roma's fifth summer signing and fifth Argentine in the squad—part of a three-strong Argentine contingent alongside Santiago Castro and Nahuel Molina who have all arrived this summer. The centre-back will undergo medical tests today before being announced, completing a significantly reinforced defence. Sporting director D'Amico is pressing ahead with negotiations on multiple fronts to strengthen the squad further within 72 hours, with Roma facing Lecce tomorrow. The priority remains an attacking winger. Chelsea's Gittens is the preferred target, with Roma applying pressure to secure a loan move from the English club. Simultaneously, negotiations with Zenit have opened for Luiz Henrique, a left-footed Brazilian winger who plays predominantly on the right. The departures being considered include Robinio Vaz, who will likely move to Hull City once the attacking reinforcement is completed, along with Neil El Aynaoui and Matías Soulé, who have attracted interest—chiefly from the Premier League—though no concrete bids have yet arrived. A Soulé exit could open the door for a left-winger addition. The midfield wing options are expected to remain unchanged.