Roma hunting bids as Saudi Arabia eyes Soulé

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.

Marten De Roon will join Roma after the club reached an agreement with Atalanta, according to reports on 30 August. The Dutch midfielder, who has worked with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta, wanted to play Champions League football under the Giallorossi coach. Roma agreed a deal worth 1 million euros as a gentleman's agreement, with De Roon set to arrive in Rome on 30 August. Roma have been searching for midfield reinforcements this summer following interest in other targets. De Roon communicated his desire to join Gasperini's side to Atalanta, and the transfer has now been completed. The move reunites the midfielder with Gasperini, who will oversee Roma's Champions League campaign this season.

Rodrigo Mora has impressed head coach Gian Piero Gasperini despite being deployed from the first minute, but the manager has signalled that a second attacking reinforcement is needed to complete the summer overhaul. Mora's contract contains a €110 million release clause. Sports director D'Amico is focused on identifying that final piece after closing the Oosterwolde deal, responding to Gasperini's requests made at the start of summer. With Lyon's decision on Fofana still pending, Donyell Malen sits atop Roma's target list. Chelsea have already rejected Roma's opening proposal for the winger, but the club intends to return with a fresh bid in the coming days. Chelsea have also registered interest in Manu Koné should Enzo Fernandez depart, while Crystal Palace have reportedly approached Roma regarding Neil El Aynaoui. Meanwhile, Roma are working to find solutions for surplus players Anass Salah-Eddine and Vasquez, the remaining members outside the project still at Trigoria.

The imminent arrival of Jayden Oosterwolde could trigger a departure in Roma's defence, with the new acquisition able to play both left-back and centre-back, offering head coach Gian Piero Gasperini additional flexibility. In the final days of the transfer window, either Jan Ziolkowski or Daniele Ghilardi may leave the club. Ziolkowski is the more marketable asset. The Polish defender has attracted interest from two Saudi clubs, particularly Neom, which has registered strong interest. Roma value him at around €20 million, partly because Legia Varsavia retain 10% of any future sale. According to Corriere dello Sport, Roma are awaiting an offer in the region of €16 million from the Saudi club—a figure that could open genuine negotiations. A sale would carry significant importance for Roma's incoming transfers; with Oosterwolde acquired through a deal that defers much of the expenditure, any proceeds from Ziolkowski could become a small fund to reinvest in the attacking winger Gasperini has requested. Oosterwolde's arrival would also permit Roma to lose a centre-back without becoming numerically exposed in defence. Ghilardi is also under scrutiny following reported interest from Bologna. Roma will assess any proposals, and should either defender depart, D'Amico may pursue another centre-back on loan in the final days. Salah-Eddine remains outside the plans, continuing to train separately after rejecting several transfer options including Olympiacos.

Roma remain active in the transfer market with one day until their Serie A opener against Fiorentina, but several targets remain out of reach. The club has completed the signing of Oosterwolde, who is expected to arrive in the capital in the coming hours, and sporting director D'Amico continues searching for a final piece to complete Gasperini's squad. Left winger remains the priority, with three names under consideration: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Malick Fofana and Rafael Leão. Chelsea have flatly rejected Roma's approach for Gittens on loan, with the London club insisting on a permanent transfer only and viewing the player as not for sale. Roma plan a fresh meeting with Chelsea in the coming week to explore whether the club might reconsider, but the obstacle remains substantial. For Leão, Milan are asking for €40 million plus €5 million in bonuses, though the Portuguese winger has opened to a move to Roma and put Turkish proposals on hold. Roma are reasoning around a package of €45 million, with agent Jorge Mendes playing a central role in negotiations. Fofana's availability hinges on whether Lyon qualify for the Champions League—their return leg against Fenerbahçe takes place on 26 August. If they advance, the Belgian winger will stay; otherwise, a sale becomes likely. Luis Henrique remains far from completion despite Roma and Inter making progress on transfer terms. The key obstacle is a lack of agreement with the player himself. Elsewhere, Roma have made contact with Brighton regarding Yasin Ayari, a 2003-born midfielder, though Borussia Dortmund are competing for his signature. Jan Ziółkowski is available for transfer at €20 million valuation, with Saudi Arabian clubs showing interest. Should he depart, Roma plan to pursue a defender on loan, with Salah-Eddine continuing to field other offers after rejecting Olympiacos.

Roma travel to Lecce on Monday 31 August at 18:30 for the second round of Serie A 2026–27, aiming to build on a commanding 4–0 opening-day victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has injury concerns ahead of the fixture at the Stadio Via del Mare: Devyne Rensch is sidelined with a strain to the left thigh flexor, and Lorenzo Pellegrini remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from a right thigh rectus femoris injury. Gasperini is expected to field a settled defensive shape with Mile Svilar in goal and a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. Nahuel Molina's availability is being assessed; if he cannot play, Giorgio De Marzi will step in after an impressive display against Fiorentina. Wesley continues at left wing-back. Bryan Cristante is assured of his midfield place alongside Manu Koné. In the attacking third, the main selection question concerns Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé; Mora started against Fiorentina and impressed, forcing a good save from De Gea, while Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are primed to lead the line. Malen was the star of Roma's opening fixture, scoring three goals and supplying three assists against Fiorentina, while Dybala also contributed three assists. Niccolò Pisilli rounded off the rout with Roma's fourth goal. The visitors hold a commanding historical record: across 42 meetings with Lecce, Roma have won 29, drawn 11 and lost only twice. The clubs last met in the 2025–26 season, when Roma won 1–0 at home through Robinio Vaz. Lecce arrive after an away victory over Venezia (2–0, goals from Gorter and Tiago Gabriel) and will play in a 4–3–3 formation under manager Eusebio Di Francesco. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN, Sky Sport and NOW. Official team sheets will be released approximately one hour before kickoff.

Roma return to the Champions League after eight years with a curious contradiction: a squad seasoned in European competition but largely inexperienced in the continent's top tier. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, the giallorossi have navigated knockout stages, difficult away trips and high-pressure evenings in recent seasons, yet a significant portion of the squad presents as Champions League debutants when their record in the competition itself is examined. The drawn opponents—Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester United, Sporting, Lille, Fenerbahçe, Slovan Bratislava and AEK Atene—underscore the magnitude of the step up. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen stand as the principal points of reference, each with around 50 Champions League appearances. Behind them Nahuel Molina brings roughly 40 such matches from his time at Atlético Madrid, followed by Mario Hermoso, equally accustomed to the highest level of European football. The picture shifts sharply thereafter. Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini have played in the Champions League, though Roma's last participation dates back to the 2018–19 season. Other squad members have sampled the competition only briefly, while a substantial portion will encounter it for the first time. Key players such as Manu Koné, Wesley, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Niccolò Pisilli and Santiago Castro have either never played it or collected minimal appearances. Yet Roma should not be labelled a European-inexperienced side. The club built a genuine identity in the cups: Cristante, Pellegrini, Gianluca Mancini, Mile Svilar and the core nucleus lived through the Conference League triumph in 2022, the Europa League final of 2023 and numerous knockout campaigns. Dybala, Evan N'Dicka, Koné, Pisilli and Matías Soulé have progressively accumulated international experience outside the Champions League but in matches where pressure, emotional control and reading momentum matter most. Here lies the true uncertainty: Roma possesses European aptitude but lacks a true Champions League identity. Errors recoverable in Europa League risk becoming instant goals against Real Madrid and PSG. The new League Phase format demands Gasperini navigate eight different fixtures without building a classic group-stage rhythm. The task ahead is not to teach Roma what a European night means, but to elevate what they have learned over five years.

Mile Svilar celebrated his 27th birthday on 27 August as Roma resumed training ahead of their away fixture at Lecce. Nahuel Molina, absent from the match against Fiorentina due to blisters on his foot, completed the full session and is in contention to make his Roma debut. Devyne Rensch remains sidelined with a hamstring issue, and his availability for selection remains doubtful. Roma's participation in the UEFA Champions League is already worth close to €50 million to the club via the so-called "value pillar", which is linked to television market revenue and league ranking. On top of that, Roma will receive €18.6 million in appearance bonuses, plus prize money for results and progression. Each victory in the league phase is worth €2.1 million, while each draw brings €700,000. The XV Municipio has proposed converting 66,000 square metres of unused public land around Tor di Quinto into car parks capable of holding almost 3,000 vehicles on match days and during major events. The aim is to ease traffic congestion and illegal parking in the areas between Ponte Milvio, Farnesina, Vigna Stelluti and Fleming, which has been worsened by Metro C construction works. A meeting has been requested with the municipal authority, relevant councils and Sport and Health.