Aston Villa have agreed to sell Dutch forward Donyell Malen to Italian Serie A side AS Roma, ending his brief but impactful spell at Villa Park after just one year.
Malen's Departure to the Italian Capital
AS Roma have secured the signing of Donyell Malen from Aston Villa on an initial loan deal. The agreement includes an obligation for the move to become permanent next summer, confirming his departure from the Midlands club. Malen arrived at Villa only 12 months ago in a £20 million transfer from German giants Borussia Dortmund, quickly endearing himself to supporters with his energetic performances.
A Fan Favourite Struggling for Starts
Despite finishing the season as the club's second-highest scorer with 10 goals across all competitions, Malen found regular starting opportunities hard to come by under manager Unai Emery. The 26-year-old started just seven Premier League matches, with Emery predominantly utilising him as an impact substitute to change games from the bench.
His most memorable performances often came when partnering Ollie Watkins in attack. A standout display was Villa's 2–1 victory over Burnley, where Malen netted both goals. However, the club hierarchy recognised the player's ambition to secure a regular role as a central number nine, a position firmly occupied by Watkins.
Football and Finance Behind the Sale
While Emery is understood to rate Malen's abilities highly, the Spaniard did not see the forward as an ideal tactical fit for his preferred system. This made the transfer a clear footballing decision. Furthermore, the sale presents a pragmatic financial solution for Villa.
Unlike the previous January window, where sales of Jhon Duran, Diego Carlos, and Jaden Philogene raised around £100 million, Villa have fewer squad players available to generate significant funds without needing immediate replacements. With Malen not in Emery's preferred starting eleven, his potential £20 million-plus valuation made him a viable asset to sell under the club's strict financial regulations.
Villa are now expected to recruit a more natural centre-forward to provide competition for Watkins. Former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, currently with Besiktas, is a known target. Abraham has scored seven goals in 17 Turkish league appearances this term and has maintained consistent form since September.
Ultimately, Malen's exit, while surprising given his goal return, is viewed as a necessary step for both the player's career and Aston Villa's strategic squad evolution under Unai Emery.
