Aston Villa have reached an agreement to sell Dutch forward Donyell Malen to Italian Serie A side AS Roma, in a deal that will bring in a total of £27 million to the Premier League club.
The Structure of the Malen Transfer Deal
According to renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the move will see Malen initially join Roma on loan with an obligation to make the transfer permanent in the summer. Villa will receive a £2 million loan fee immediately, followed by a further £25 million to complete the permanent switch ahead of the 2026/27 season.
This transaction represents a swift turnaround for the player, who only arrived at Villa Park from Borussia Dortmund in January 2025. During his single full season with the club, Malen made an impact, scoring seven goals across all competitions. In the current 2025/26 campaign, only teammate Morgan Rogers has found the net more often for Unai Emery's side.
Financial Motives Behind Villa's Decision
The financial aspect of this sale is particularly significant for Aston Villa. The club paid Dortmund £21 million for Malen's services just over a year ago, meaning the £27 million total fee secures a £6 million profit.
This profit is widely seen as a key factor in manager Unai Emery sanctioning the sale, with the club navigating the Premier League's strict Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR). Villa's need to manage their squad within these financial rules has been well-documented, forcing them to be strategic in the transfer market.
What Malen's Departure Means
Donyell Malen's Villa career concludes after 35 Premier League appearances, only seven of which were starts. He now heads to a Roma team currently sitting fifth in Serie A under manager Gian Piero Gasperini, seeking a fresh challenge in Italian football.
For Villa, the deal provides crucial financial breathing room and demonstrates the club's model of trading players for a profit to reinvest in the squad, all while remaining compliant with the league's financial controls.
