Roma must balance finances and recruitment after Champions League qualification

Andrija Vukoje has joined AS Roma's Primavera side on a contract until 2031. The Montenegrin midfielder, born in 2008, arrives from Inter's youth setup and will compete in the 2026-27 season under head coach Mattia Scala. Roma announced the signing on social media, stating: "Andrija Vukoje is giallorosso until 2031! Midfielder, class of 2008. Welcome to our Primavera."

Antonio Arena, Roma's young striker born in 2009, has spoken about his journey from Australia to Italian football in an interview with Vivo Azzurro. The 14-year-old Academy product began playing football at five in Australia, where both his parents were born; his grandparents are from Calabria. He moved to Europe at 14 for trials across the continent before joining Pescara, where he spent seven months on the bench before his father encouraged him to stay. "My father came with me to Italy," Arena said. "Without him, I would probably have gone back. It was difficult at first. Baldini called me to train with them one day because an attacker was missing, and from then on I stayed with them almost always. I was on the bench for 7 months. I wanted to play but I wasn't ready. I improved a lot with him." Arena recently scored for Roma against Torino in what he described as a shock. "A special evening, I was delighted, I didn't expect to play," he recalled. "Wesley's cross comes in, then the header and I don't even remember it properly — it all happened so fast. Pity about the result but it was a special night. I didn't believe it. My father told me I'd been good but that I should keep my head down and keep working." The striker has represented Italy at U17, U18 and U19 level. On his ambitions, Arena said: "My dream is to be as strong a player as possible. I want to play in the Champions League, win World Cups and Euros with Italy. I want to be among the best strikers. I want to get there."

Jayden Oosterwolde arrived in Rome with all the ceremony of a completed signing — meeting fans, heading to the training ground, undergoing medical checks. An official announcement, photoshoot and first interview were ready. Then the deal collapsed. The medical examinations revealed serious concerns: several doctors flagged a high risk of surgery to the tendons of the Fenerbahçe defender. Fenerbahçe refused to negotiate a revised offer, and Roma swiftly sent Oosterwolde back. The club chose to abandon the transfer rather than proceed with the risk. The outcome is unusual but not unprecedented in Serie A. Milan faced a similar situation with Mateta; Lazio with Bamba Dieng. Roma's own history holds comparable examples. Six months into another transfer saga, Milik encountered the same fate with Napoli: full agreement reached, then detailed instrumental checks in Switzerland on the Polish striker's knees — he had undergone two previous cruciate ligament surgeries — prompted Roma's hierarchy to harbour serious doubts about his rehabilitation timeline, ultimately breaking the deal. Unlike Oosterwolde's public arrival, that negotiation remained behind closed doors. The 2024 case of Tiago Djalo offers another parallel. The Juventus defender's transfer to Roma collapsed on 30 August, in the final days of the transfer window, despite having already completed his medical with the club. Roma hesitated, unconvinced by the deal, leaving Djalo confined to a hotel. After two days, the player chose to return to Turin.

Roma are intensifying their pursuit of attacking reinforcements as Gasperini's rebuild continues. Sporting director D'Amico is preparing a fresh attempt for Gittens while reassessing the Fofana situation after Lyon contacted the club this morning to enter talks; the offer exceeds €30 million but Roma have temporarily shelved that avenue. In defence, the club has accelerated negotiations with Marseille over Gianluca Balerdi and is close to sealing the deal. Balerdi, a versatile defender with strong distribution ability, can operate as backup to Evan N'Dicka or as the leading centre-back in Gasperini's three-man system following his spells under Tudor and De Zerbi. Meanwhile, Jan Ziolkowski will join Monza on loan with a purchase option set at €18 million, clearing space in Roma's defensive ranks after Nottingham Forest blocked the Morato route.

Roma are pursuing Marseille defender Leo Balerdi as they search for reinforcements in defence following the collapse of their move for Jayden Oosterwolde, who failed his second medical. Balerdi has approved the transfer, and Marseille have opened negotiations over a loan with an option to buy, with talks progressing positively. The move comes after Roma's failed attempt to sign Nottingham Forest's Morato, who the club could not acquire on loan. The departure of Jan Ziółkowski to Monza has left the Giallorossi needing a defender of Balerdi's profile. Balerdi would slot in as a rotation option behind Evan N'Dicka, who is expected to be a regular in the back three. Roma already have a strong Argentine contingent, and the centre-back would strengthen that group.

AS Roma are signing Nicolás Balerdi from Olympique Marseille as financial pressure forces the French club to sell. The centre-back will arrive at Trigoria as backup to Evan N'Dicka but can play across multiple defensive positions, including right-side centre-back in Gasperini's three-man defence. Under De Zerbi last season, Balerdi was one of Ligue 1's standout defenders, recording a pass accuracy of 92% and recovering 5.4 balls per 90 minutes. He frequently operated as a primary playmaker from the centre, averaging 82 touches per match. Roma have struggled to build play from the back since Paredes departed and lack a recognised deep midfielder—Balerdi's range of passing and composure in possession could become a key asset in Gasperini's system.

Roma are pursuing Marseille defender Leo Balerdi as they search for reinforcements in defence following the collapse of their move for Jayden Oosterwolde, who failed his second medical. Balerdi has approved the transfer, and Marseille have opened negotiations over a loan with an option to buy, with talks progressing positively. The move comes after Roma's failed attempt to sign Nottingham Forest's Morato, who the club could not acquire on loan. The departure of Jan Ziółkowski to Monza has left the Giallorossi needing a defender of Balerdi's profile. Balerdi would slot in as a rotation option behind Evan N'Dicka, who is expected to be a regular in the back three. Roma already have a strong Argentine contingent, and the centre-back would strengthen that group.

Roma are evaluating Leonardo Balerdi, the Marseille captain, as a reinforcement for their defence in the closing stages of the transfer window. The 27-year-old Argentine central defender has been shaped by experience across South America, the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, and offers tactical flexibility within a three-man defence. In Roma's thinking, Balerdi could numerically fill the position vacated by Jan Ziółkowski, who is currently completing a transfer to Monza. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini sees him primarily as competition for Evan N'Dicka, though his versatility would allow him to operate across multiple defensive positions. Balerdi was born in Villa Mercedes, Argentina, in 1999 and developed at Boca Juniors before joining Borussia Dortmund at twenty. His spell in Germany yielded limited continuity, but the move to Marseille in 2020 proved the turning point. In France he has become a cornerstone of the squad, earning the captain's armband under Roberto De Zerbi's management. The 2025–26 season saw him make 36 appearances for Marseille, scoring once and providing one assist, demonstrating the consistency he has achieved in his adopted league. As a right-footed centre-back, Balerdi combines physical strength, aggression and leadership presence. Beyond his core role, he can operate as a wide centre-back in a three, offering the flexibility Gasperini values for building play from deep and adapting to different defensive constructions. Balerdi made his Argentina debut in 2019 and has become an established international. His potential arrival would add depth and experience to Roma's backline during a season that includes Champions League football, allowing Gasperini to rotate his defensive unit without altering the team's structural shape.

Roma have agreed personal terms with Leonardo Balerdi after securing the departure of Jan Ziółkowski on loan to Monza. The club are now in active negotiations with Marseille over a loan deal with a buy clause that can become mandatory under certain conditions, with the move described as well advanced. Balerdi, 27, is a centre-back who stands 1.88 metres tall and is right-footed. An Argentine international, he came through Boca Juniors before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2019 and moving to Marseille, where he has been a regular since 2020. Roma's proposal to Marseille is structured around a loan with an option to buy that would convert to an obligation if specific conditions are met. The move represents Roma's attempt to add defensive experience to Gian Piero Gasperini's squad after exploring other targets. No transfer fee or the exact conditions triggering a mandatory purchase have been disclosed. The next step depends on Marseille's response and whether the two clubs can find alignment on the structure Roma has proposed.