Roma seals Koulierakis deal; Read bid lodged as Gasperini eyes left-wing reinforcements

Santiago Castro completed his first training session with Roma on Tuesday at Trigoria before the squad departs for Wales. The Argentine, officially confirmed as the club's opening signing of the transfer window, was immediately integrated into group work by Gasperini, who used a game of tag to settle the newcomer in. The activity involved the entire squad and Castro adapted quickly, with teammates responding positively to his arrival. Hermoso marked Castro's debut with a characteristically robust challenge during a small-sided match, sending a clear message about Roma's work ethic and competitive standards. The physical reception underscored the club's culture: players joke and train together, but no quarter is given on the pitch. Roma's training camp moves to Wales later this week for the second phase of pre-season, where temperatures will be far more moderate than the 40-degree heat currently gripping the capital.

Roma have confirmed their first signing of the summer transfer window. Santiago Castro has joined from Bologna as a Roma player and will wear the number 9 shirt, vacated by Artem Dovbyk. The Ukrainian striker completes the reverse move to Bologna, where he will attempt a fresh start under Tedesco. The swap represents Roma's opening business of the transfer market, with the club's sporting director D'Amico continuing recruitment work. Castro takes up a key offensive role in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad, while Dovbyk seeks to rediscover his form in Serie A after his time in the Italian capital.

Santiago Castro has joined Roma from Bologna on a permanent transfer for €35 million, with the Argentine striker expressing his eagerness to contribute under Gian Piero Gasperini. Castro told Roma's official channels: "It was a short negotiation, I wanted to come from the first moment. I spoke with the sporting director, they told me what they expect from me, I felt the confidence and I know what I can do to help the squad. Since I heard from them I chose straight away to come here." On Gasperini, he added: "I like him. He does very well in Italy for years, I'm here to give a hand, I can do what he wants." Roma have swiftly moved to strengthen their defence with the signing of Konstantinos Koulierakis, a 2003-born centre-back from Wolfsburg, on a permanent deal worth approximately €15 million. The left-footed Greek defender will undergo medical tests and sign his contract in the coming days, competing with Hermoso for the left-centre role in Gasperini's three-man defence. Meanwhile, Angeliño departs on loan to Deportivo La Coruña with a €2 million buyout clause, returning to the Spanish club where he developed through the youth system. Roma have tabled an official €25 million offer to Feyenoord for right-back Givairo Read, with sporting director Tony D'Amico opening direct negotiations to find a resolution. Nottingham Forest remain interested but have had two bids rejected. The coming days are expected to be decisive in the pursuit of a replacement for Çelik on the right flank.

Roma have confirmed their first signing of the summer transfer window. Santiago Castro has joined from Bologna as a Roma player and will wear the number 9 shirt, vacated by Artem Dovbyk. The Ukrainian striker completes the reverse move to Bologna, where he will attempt a fresh start under Tedesco. The swap represents Roma's opening business of the transfer market, with the club's sporting director D'Amico continuing recruitment work. Castro takes up a key offensive role in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad, while Dovbyk seeks to rediscover his form in Serie A after his time in the Italian capital.

Kostas Koulierakis has completed his move to AS Roma, becoming the club's second summer signing under director D'Amico. The Greek defender met head coach Gian Piero Gasperini via videoconference on Tuesday evening. Although presented by some as a backup option, Gasperini views him—like fellow new arrival Artem Dovbyk—as a core addition to the squad rather than reserve cover. Gasperini pushed for the upgrades after Roma finished third and qualified for the Champions League, seeking improvements across multiple fronts: numerically, technically, and tactically. With Zeki Çelik's departure confirmed and moves away for both Salah Eddine and Angeliño imminent, Roma's full-back options have thinned to just Devyne Rensch and Wesley, both capable on either flank. The recruitment team is pursuing two more wide defenders—targets include Read with Fresneda as an alternative, and Cacciamani—all of whom Gasperini has already approved. The club also plans to add further attacking reinforcements in the coming weeks, with Nusa identified as an immediate priority and Endrick a longer-term target. D'Amico's push to accelerate business reflects the board's backing for Gasperini's vision and focus on squad improvement rather than other institutional matters.

Artem Dovbyk has completed his transfer from AS Roma to Bologna on a loan deal with a right of redemption through 30 June 2027. The Ukrainian striker departs after two seasons in the Giallorossi, during which he made 63 appearances and scored 20 goals. Roma's statement wished him well for the future. Dovbyk arrived at Roma under Daniele De Rossi in the summer following his standout 2023–24 campaign with Girona, where he finished La Liga's top scorer with 24 goals and helped the club qualify for the Champions League with a third-place finish. In his debut season at Roma, Dovbyk netted 17 goals across all competitions. However, his second campaign was hampered by a lengthy injury, limiting his impact during the 2025–26 season. Bologna confirmed Dovbyk as the first Ukrainian player in the club's history. The Emilia-Romagna side described him as a modern centre-forward capable of combining physical strength, power and quality in attack, with a particular talent for finishing and penetrating the box. The move represents a fresh opportunity for the 1997-born striker to rebuild momentum in his career.