Oosterwolde's Roma move held up by fresh medical checks over muscular concerns

Jayden Oosterwolde arrived at Ciampino yesterday and was set to complete his move to Roma today, but the club has requested additional medical assessments of the Dutch defender's fitness status. Oosterwolde was greeted by dozens of supporters upon arrival, yet Roma wants to conduct thorough investigations into a recent muscular injury that sidelined him in recent weeks. Medical tests have cleared him for competitive fitness, though the club is seeking clarity on the specifics of that latest injury. Gasperini's fifth signing this summer is being completed on the basis of a loan with an option to buy from Fenerbahce. Oosterwolde has already begun running again and is expected to be ready by mid-September, though the completion of his transfer now depends on the outcome of Roma's additional medical consultations.

Roma have made a sudden push to sign Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessié, attempting to capitalize on Juventus's stalled negotiations for the player. According to Sky Sport, Roma accelerated their efforts in recent hours, looking to turn a previous interest into a concrete transfer opportunity. Juventus had intensified contact with Kessié's representatives but has not yet closed a deal; the Bianconeri need to complete further outgoings first, and the sale of Miretti to Besiktas alone would not create sufficient space for the signing. Roma are now attempting to insert themselves into the race. For club director D'Amico, bringing Kessié would add significant international experience to midfield and offer different qualities to those already in the squad. The prospect is made particularly attractive by his previous connection with Gasperini, Roma's current head coach. Gasperini was the manager who launched Kessié at Atalanta during the 2016–17 season, rapidly establishing him as one of Serie A's standout midfielders. After a gap of ten years, their paths could cross again. Juventus remains in contention, but Roma's move could shift the balance of the negotiation in the final days of the transfer window.

Roma have entered the race to sign Franck Kessie, the Ivorian midfielder currently a free agent who has long signalled his preference to join Juventus and return to Serie A. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is pushing for the midfielder, whom he knows from their time together at Atalanta. If the deal closes, Roma could send Neil El Aynaoui out on loan or sell him permanently. Manu Koné, by contrast, is considered a key piece of the squad and will not be moved.

Jayden Oosterwolde arrived at Ciampino yesterday and was set to complete his move to Roma today, but the club has requested additional medical assessments of the Dutch defender's fitness status. Oosterwolde was greeted by dozens of supporters upon arrival, yet Roma wants to conduct thorough investigations into a recent muscular injury that sidelined him in recent weeks. Medical tests have cleared him for competitive fitness, though the club is seeking clarity on the specifics of that latest injury. Gasperini's fifth signing this summer is being completed on the basis of a loan with an option to buy from Fenerbahce. Oosterwolde has already begun running again and is expected to be ready by mid-September, though the completion of his transfer now depends on the outcome of Roma's additional medical consultations.

Jayden Oosterwolde landed at Ciampino airport on the morning of 25 August 2026 to complete his transfer from Fenerbahçe to Roma. The Dutch defender underwent medical examinations at Campus Bio-Medico during the day, with registration scheduled to follow once the medical team cleared him for play. Roma has requested additional assessments of Oosterwolde's physical condition before issuing final approval for his registration. The player is recovering from a muscle injury, prompting the club to conduct thorough checks and obtain full clarity on his fitness level before proceeding. The club's decision on whether to complete the registration is expected on 26 August. Once cleared, Oosterwolde will be available to Gasperini from that point, though the muscle injury is likely to keep him sidelined until the first international break in mid-September. The transfer is structured as a loan with a fee of €1.5 million, coupled with a conditional obligation to buy set at €14.5 million. The purchase obligation is contingent on Oosterwolde making a minimum of 14 appearances for the club. Oosterwolde, born in 2001, arrived on a flight from Amsterdam and was greeted at the airport by supporters and journalists covering the transfer.

Roma remain focused on completing their final summer signings despite victory over Fiorentina, with head coach Gasperini and the club's recruitment team pursuing a left-sided attacker. Édouard Fofana of Lyon and Chelsea's Moisés Gittens are the two main targets, though the situations differ markedly. An agreement with Fofana's representatives has been in place for some time, but Roma will make a final decision tomorrow after Lyon's Champions League preliminary tie concludes, partly because the French club needs to generate sales for financial reasons. Chelsea have rejected Roma's loan proposal for Gittens and regard him as non-transferable, though Roma will make another attempt regardless. Jayden Oosterwolde touched down at Ciampino this morning, where he posed for selfies with waiting supporters. The defender underwent medical assessments this evening at Campus Bio-Medico, where Roma conducted further checks on a muscular strain he picked up earlier in the month.

Gian Piero Gasperini deployed three different formations during Roma's match against Fiorentina, avoiding the 3-4-2-1 system that defined last season but never abandoning the aggressive one-on-one pressing and intensity that characterise his approach. The tactical adjustments were made to nullify Fiorentina's threats rather than to compensate for transfer market gaps or absences. Gasperini's willingness to shift shape underscores a deeper principle: Roma's behaviour remains unchanged regardless of formation. The side consistently attacks, with N'Dicka operating as a target on the attacking third and Mancini and Hermoso—later replaced by Koulierakis—covering the flanks. Fiorentina manager Grosso began in a 4-3-2-1 before moving to 4-2-4 when Roma went two goals clear. With Kean deployed alongside Pellegrino, Gasperini matched the adjustment with an identical system. The lineup featured Svilar in goal, Lulli, Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso across the back, Cristante and Koné in midfield, and Soulé, Dybala, Malen and Wesley in attack. Soulé had replaced Mora at 2-0. When Grosso shifted to 4-3-3 late on, Gasperini responded by introducing El Aynaoui and Pisilli for Koné and Dybala, switching to a 3-5-1-1. This brought Mancini, N'Dicka and Koulierakis across the back, a five-man midfield of Lulli, Pisilli, Cristante, El Aynaoui and Wesley, with Soulé supporting Castro in attack. Roma scored a fourth goal. Gasperini's track record with such adjustments is long and proven, but the club now needs a right-footed winger capable of providing thrust on the break and winning one-on-one duels. The manager will learn soon whether Chelsea is willing to negotiate for Gittens, and after Lyon play Fenerbahce tomorrow evening, whether an agreement with Fofana can be finalised.

Roma demolished Fiorentina 4–0 in a commanding display, with Donyell Malen scoring a hat-trick to lead the charge. Paulo Dybala contributed three assists and Manu Koné was withdrawn only through fatigue, underlining Roma's control. Debutant Daniele Ghilardi impressed in an early appearance, while Evan N'Dicka stood firm at the back as the team moved to 3–4–1–2 formation under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. All five major Italian newspapers awarded Roma positive marks across the board. Svilar received ratings between 6 and 6.5 in goal. The defence was solid, with N'Dicka rated 7 to 7.5 by all outlets and Mancini and Hermoso both praised. In midfield, Cristante earned 6.5 to 7, while Wesley was rated 6 to 7 on the flank. Koné's 6.5 to 7.5 reflected his strong showing before substitution. Malen's 8.5 to 9 and Dybala's 8 to 9 dominated the attacking ratings. Corrections made 68 minutes in saw Koulierakis introduced for Hermoso, while Pisilli replaced Koné at 79 minutes. Rodrigo Mora (6.5) and later Matías Soulé (6) featured in attack; Santiago Castro entered for Malen at 68 minutes. Gasperini earned 7.5 to 8 from the press corps. N'Dicka's display of 7 to 7.5, Koné's energy and Ghilardi's first appearance highlighted a Roma side functioning with precision and depth throughout.

Roma delivered a commanding performance to defeat Fiorentina in convincing fashion, with the attacking partnership of Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala at the centre of a tactically assured display that showcased the squad's early-season form. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini deployed a 3-4-1-2 formation in his opening fixture, positioning Rodrigo Mora as a trequartista behind Malen and Dybala, with the Portuguese forward alternating responsibilities alongside Fagioli in midfield. Roma's defensive structure proved resistant throughout, with Evan N'Dicka marking aggressively in the 3 vs 3 system and largely neutralising Fiorentina's central threat. Bryan Cristante managed transitions effectively between the centre-backs, while Mario Hermoso and Gianluca Mancini remained largely untroubled in open play. Matías Soulé operated as an inverted winger with penetrating runs, and the fullback pairing of Lulli and Wesley — operating on his left foot — kept Fiorentina's wing play at bay. Roma managed territorial supremacy without producing clear-cut chances until Mora drifted to the left flank and forced saves from De Gea. The breakthrough came when Dybala pierced Fiorentina's central defence with a lateral run, opening space for Malen to finish clinically. The second half began with both sides unchanged, but Gasperini's tactical tweaks proved decisive. A rapid counterattack saw Malen and Dybala combine with surgical precision to double the lead. After Soulé replaced Mora, Lulli fed into the Malen-Dybala axis to complete a 3-0 scoreline that raised questions about Roma's defensive depth. The closing stages saw further substitutions as Gasperini shifted to a 3-5-2 formation, with Niccolò Pisilli entering as trequartista and scoring a fourth goal. Fiorentina's attacking threat materialised only sporadically across the 90 minutes, primarily through Kean's runs in behind. Mancini struggled against Kean's pace when facing him directly, repeatedly unable to prevent the striker from being turned on his goal and conceding positional advantage. A yellow card for Hermoso on Mastantuono 70 metres from goal in the first half complicated Roma's defensive options thereafter. Mario Hermoso received an avoidable caution early on that constrained his subsequent play. Roma's display suggested a squad capable of managing the season's demands with focused tactical discipline. The dominant control exercised over a Fiorentina side still integrating summer recruitment underscored Roma's own defensive solidity and attacking coherence, particularly the explosive capability of Malen and Dybala operating in tandem.