De Roon to Roma: Deal agreed with Atalanta

Roma are moving to strengthen their squad in the final three days of the transfer window with two major pieces in place. Marten De Roon has agreed terms with Roma and asked Atalanta to release him so he can join his former manager Gasperini for the Champions League campaign. De Roon would replace Neil El Aynaoui, who is heading to Leipzig on a deal worth 4 million for a loan and 25 million for the right to buy, plus a sell-on percentage. The clubs could reach a gentlemen's agreement that sees Roma pay Atalanta 1 million to complete the move, with De Roon potentially arriving in the city as early as today. In parallel, Roma have targeted a left-sided attacking player as a priority and have now opened negotiations for Luiz Henrique, a Brazilian at Zenit Saint Petersburg who was brought to the World Cup by Ancelotti. Although Henrique played on the left early in his career at Fluminense, he now operates primarily on the right wing, where he favours cutting inside with his left foot. Roma have tabled an offer to Zenit structured as a loan with a conditional right to buy that converts to an obligation; the clubs have agreed terms, and now the player's approval is needed. Roma continue to explore other options on the wing. Jamie Gittens at Chelsea remains a target, with Chelsea apparently open to a loan arrangement for the English winger. Roma's recruitment staff are also tracking Jamie Leweling of Stuttgart and have made enquiries about Keny Arroyo, an Ecuadorian prospect born in 2006 now at Cruzeiro, through intermediaries.

Neil El Aynaoui has completed his move from Roma to RB Leipzig on a deal structure of a paid loan worth €4 million with a purchase option set at €25 million. The agreement also includes a percentage on any future resale. The Moroccan midfielder departs after joining Roma last summer, and his exit clears the way for Marten de Roon to arrive at the club to strengthen the midfield under manager Gian Piero Gasperini. El Aynaoui had been identified as a potential departure in the final days of the transfer window. Leipzig had presented Roma with a formal proposal based on a paid loan with a purchase option, a structure Roma had shown greater openness to in recent days compared to an outright permanent sale. The move marks the end of El Aynaoui's brief spell in the Giallorossi colours as the club reshapes its midfield. The transfer came after contact between the two clubs in what had been fluid negotiations. Roma had previously indicated a preference for either an option to buy or different terms entirely, but Leipzig's structure ultimately satisfied both parties in what sources attribute to Fabrizio Romano.

Roma have completed a double midfield operation, signing Marten De Roon from Atalanta on a deal worth a maximum of €1 million in bonuses. The Dutch midfielder, a trusted ally of head coach Gasperini, requested to be released to play Champions League football with Gasperini at Roma. The club has also confirmed the departure of Neil El Aynaoui to RB Leipzig. De Roon's arrival strengthens Gasperini's midfield options as Roma prepare for their Champions League campaign this season.