Roma move for Kessié in bid to beat Juventus, could reunite with Gasperini

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.

Roma have entered the race to sign Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessié in the closing stages of the transfer window, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. Juventus remain strongly interested and continue to pursue the player, though they need to complete outgoing transfers first to accelerate their move. Gasperini, who managed Kessié during his time at Atalanta, is keen on the midfielder and Roma are looking to make a strong push in what could be a competitive chase. The midfield is expected to remain active in the final days of the market as the clubs manoeuvre for position.

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.