Koulierakis arrives in Rome: Greek defender completes move from Wolfsburg

Kostas Koulierakis has arrived at Roma from Wolfsburg in a deal worth €16.5 million plus €1.5 million in add-ons. Wolfsburg will also retain a 20 per cent stake in any future sale. The centre-back landed at Ciampino airport on 1 August and is expected to bolster Gasperini's defence. The transfer completes Roma's summer recruitment drive under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who has made defensive stability a priority ahead of the 2026–27 season. Koulierakis's arrival follows a busy window for the Giallorossi, with the club continuing to reshape the squad to match Gasperini's tactical demands.

Konstantinos Koulierakis has landed at Rome's Ciampino airport to complete his transfer to AS Roma, becoming the club's second summer signing after Castro. The Greek defender touched down at 13:10 local time, 40 minutes behind schedule, and was greeted by roughly 25 supporters who sang and applauded his arrival. Roma agreed the deal with Wolfsburg on 31 July, paying €16.5 million plus €1.5 million in add-ons, with the German club retaining 20 per cent of any future sale profit. Koulierakis has signed a contract until 2031 on wages of approximately €2 million per season. The 24-year-old will undergo his medical examinations in Rome before immediately departing for Wales, where head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the rest of the squad are continuing their pre-season training camp. Koulierakis will join Roma's defensive line alongside Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, Mario Hermoso, Daniele Ghilardi and Jan Ziółkowski as Gasperini shapes his backline for the 2026–27 campaign. The arrival completes a key piece of the recruitment jigsaw for the Giallorossi.

Roma are continuing their search for a left-winger but are unlikely to move for Brentford's Schade, whose €60 million valuation the club views as prohibitively expensive. Roma's director of sport has made enquiries about the German winger but will not pursue the deal at that price. The pursuit follows the collapse of the Ezzalzouli option, while Nusa remains under consideration despite the high cost involved. Schade is one of several wing targets on Roma's radar as the club looks to strengthen in attacking positions. The director, who is not present in Wales, intends to complete additional signings after securing Castro and Koulierakis. Endrick and Mastantuono are also on the shortlist, though a sale of Soulé—who is attracting interest from AC Milan—may be necessary to fund those moves. Rafael Leão has also been monitored as a potential market opportunity should the Portuguese winger remain at Milan in the final days of the transfer window.

Roma face Cardiff in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, 1 August at 16:00 — the Giallorossi's first examination of substance under Gasperini's direction this summer. The squad arrived in Wales on Friday and will field Paulo Dybala as the lead forward from the start, with Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen deployed in supporting attacking roles. Castro, described as Roma's new striker, will not start but is expected to feature as Gasperini assesses him on the pitch. Robinio Vaz returns to availability after an earlier absence, while Neil El Aynaoui has rejoined the group following time away and is ready to play. The match comes after Roma's initial pre-season friendlies against their Primavera side, Trastevere, and Cannes. It will be Roma's first match on Welsh soil under Gasperini, who took charge last year. The 3-4-2-1 formation sees Mile Svilar in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso in defence; Devyne Rensch, Neil El Aynaoui, Bryan Cristante, and Wesley across the midfield; and Dybala and Soulé behind Malen in attack. The fixture will be broadcast live exclusively on DAZN with a 16:00 kickoff on Saturday, 1 August. A delayed terrestrial broadcast is scheduled for Canale Nove at 21:30.

Radio commentators have weighed in on Roma's defensive recruitment and tactical priorities this summer. Marcacci told Radio Radio that Koulierakis appears to be the type of tough, no-nonsense defender capable of adapting well to Serie A, adding: "Probably he will start as a backup, but he is a player of greater reliability compared to many others we have seen pass through. With the ball at his feet he is not stronger than Hermoso but he can be more disciplined." Matera, also speaking to Radio Radio, identified a gap in Roma's squad in the left wing role, both for the starting position and the bench. He suggested the club is unwilling to compromise on quality: "The feeling is that Roma do not want to settle for taking players just for the sake of it. Gasperini wants to have level-appropriate alternatives in every role." The assessment reflects head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's approach to squad depth across all positions.

Konstantinos Koulierakis has landed at Rome's Ciampino airport to complete his transfer to AS Roma, becoming the club's second summer signing after Castro. The Greek defender touched down at 13:10 local time, 40 minutes behind schedule, and was greeted by roughly 25 supporters who sang and applauded his arrival. Roma agreed the deal with Wolfsburg on 31 July, paying €16.5 million plus €1.5 million in add-ons, with the German club retaining 20 per cent of any future sale profit. Koulierakis has signed a contract until 2031 on wages of approximately €2 million per season. The 24-year-old will undergo his medical examinations in Rome before immediately departing for Wales, where head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the rest of the squad are continuing their pre-season training camp. Koulierakis will join Roma's defensive line alongside Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, Mario Hermoso, Daniele Ghilardi and Jan Ziółkowski as Gasperini shapes his backline for the 2026–27 campaign. The arrival completes a key piece of the recruitment jigsaw for the Giallorossi.

Roma face Cardiff in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, 1 August at 16:00 — the Giallorossi's first examination of substance under Gasperini's direction this summer. The squad arrived in Wales on Friday and will field Paulo Dybala as the lead forward from the start, with Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen deployed in supporting attacking roles. Castro, described as Roma's new striker, will not start but is expected to feature as Gasperini assesses him on the pitch. Robinio Vaz returns to availability after an earlier absence, while Neil El Aynaoui has rejoined the group following time away and is ready to play. The match comes after Roma's initial pre-season friendlies against their Primavera side, Trastevere, and Cannes. It will be Roma's first match on Welsh soil under Gasperini, who took charge last year. The 3-4-2-1 formation sees Mile Svilar in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso in defence; Devyne Rensch, Neil El Aynaoui, Bryan Cristante, and Wesley across the midfield; and Dybala and Soulé behind Malen in attack. The fixture will be broadcast live exclusively on DAZN with a 16:00 kickoff on Saturday, 1 August. A delayed terrestrial broadcast is scheduled for Canale Nove at 21:30.

Konstantinos Koulierakis has landed at Rome's Ciampino airport to complete his transfer to AS Roma, becoming the club's second summer signing after Castro. The Greek defender touched down at 13:10 local time, 40 minutes behind schedule, and was greeted by roughly 25 supporters who sang and applauded his arrival. Roma agreed the deal with Wolfsburg on 31 July, paying €16.5 million plus €1.5 million in add-ons, with the German club retaining 20 per cent of any future sale profit. Koulierakis has signed a contract until 2031 on wages of approximately €2 million per season. The 24-year-old will undergo his medical examinations in Rome before immediately departing for Wales, where head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the rest of the squad are continuing their pre-season training camp. Koulierakis will join Roma's defensive line alongside Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, Mario Hermoso, Daniele Ghilardi and Jan Ziółkowski as Gasperini shapes his backline for the 2026–27 campaign. The arrival completes a key piece of the recruitment jigsaw for the Giallorossi.

Roma have not completed any significant departures during the current transfer window, despite extensive speculation over outgoing moves. The club declined offers from Inter for Mancini and N'Dicka, from Juventus for Svilar (€42 million) and from Porto for Pisilli (€22 million). Atlético Madrid also made an offer for Koné, though Manchester United are reportedly interested in the midfielder. The decision to retain key players appears to have been made by the Friedkin Group at the request of head coach Gasperini, who wanted to maintain squad competitiveness. Roma needed to engineer profitable sales to address Financial Fair Play regulations with UEFA, following an extension of the compliance deadline. By allowing the 31 July transfer deadline to pass without moving on any of their leading talents, the club has deferred resolving this situation. As a result, Roma face disciplinary action from UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, with a ruling expected in November. The club anticipates a fine of €10–12 million and a restriction on squad size for European competitions in 2027–28, reducing the permitted roster from 25 to 22 players. More severe penalties — such as a ban on fielding newly signed players or exclusion from competitions — are considered unlikely.

Roma face Cardiff in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, 1 August at 16:00 — the Giallorossi's first examination of substance under Gasperini's direction this summer. The squad arrived in Wales on Friday and will field Paulo Dybala as the lead forward from the start, with Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen deployed in supporting attacking roles. Castro, described as Roma's new striker, will not start but is expected to feature as Gasperini assesses him on the pitch. Robinio Vaz returns to availability after an earlier absence, while Neil El Aynaoui has rejoined the group following time away and is ready to play. The match comes after Roma's initial pre-season friendlies against their Primavera side, Trastevere, and Cannes. It will be Roma's first match on Welsh soil under Gasperini, who took charge last year. The 3-4-2-1 formation sees Mile Svilar in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso in defence; Devyne Rensch, Neil El Aynaoui, Bryan Cristante, and Wesley across the midfield; and Dybala and Soulé behind Malen in attack. The fixture will be broadcast live exclusively on DAZN with a 16:00 kickoff on Saturday, 1 August. A delayed terrestrial broadcast is scheduled for Canale Nove at 21:30.

Konstantinos Koulierakis has landed at Rome's Ciampino airport to complete his transfer to AS Roma, becoming the club's second summer signing after Castro. The Greek defender touched down at 13:10 local time, 40 minutes behind schedule, and was greeted by roughly 25 supporters who sang and applauded his arrival. Roma agreed the deal with Wolfsburg on 31 July, paying €16.5 million plus €1.5 million in add-ons, with the German club retaining 20 per cent of any future sale profit. Koulierakis has signed a contract until 2031 on wages of approximately €2 million per season. The 24-year-old will undergo his medical examinations in Rome before immediately departing for Wales, where head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the rest of the squad are continuing their pre-season training camp. Koulierakis will join Roma's defensive line alongside Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, Mario Hermoso, Daniele Ghilardi and Jan Ziółkowski as Gasperini shapes his backline for the 2026–27 campaign. The arrival completes a key piece of the recruitment jigsaw for the Giallorossi.

Roma have not completed any significant departures during the current transfer window, despite extensive speculation over outgoing moves. The club declined offers from Inter for Mancini and N'Dicka, from Juventus for Svilar (€42 million) and from Porto for Pisilli (€22 million). Atlético Madrid also made an offer for Koné, though Manchester United are reportedly interested in the midfielder. The decision to retain key players appears to have been made by the Friedkin Group at the request of head coach Gasperini, who wanted to maintain squad competitiveness. Roma needed to engineer profitable sales to address Financial Fair Play regulations with UEFA, following an extension of the compliance deadline. By allowing the 31 July transfer deadline to pass without moving on any of their leading talents, the club has deferred resolving this situation. As a result, Roma face disciplinary action from UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, with a ruling expected in November. The club anticipates a fine of €10–12 million and a restriction on squad size for European competitions in 2027–28, reducing the permitted roster from 25 to 22 players. More severe penalties — such as a ban on fielding newly signed players or exclusion from competitions — are considered unlikely.