AS Roma Close to Signing Leon Bailey on Loan with €16m Buy Option as Emery Confirms Exit

AS Roma are on the verge of completing a deal for Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey, with negotiations advancing for a €4 million loan fee and a €16 million option to buy, the 28-year-old Jamaican international, who has fallen down the pecking order at Villa Park, was excluded from Unai Emery’s squad for their recent match, with the manager confirming Bailey is in contact with another club and likely to leave. Roma view Bailey as a key reinforcement for their attack under Gian Piero Gasperini, valuing his versatility to play on either flank and his experience in top European leagues. The deal, which could be finalized today, would mark Roma’s seventh summer signing as they aim to strengthen ahead of the new Serie A season.

While Roma lead the race, Bailey had also attracted interest from Besiktas and Saudi Pro League clubs, but the player appears set on a move to Italy, His arrival would follow Brighton’s Evan Ferguson on loan, adding depth to Roma’s attack alongside potential targets like Jadon Sancho. Bailey, who joined Villa for €32 million in 2021, has struggled with form and injuries recently but previously played a key role in their Champions League qualification, with personal terms nearing agreement and agents already in Italy, an official announcement could come imminently, giving Bailey a chance to revive his career in Serie A.

Sources: The Hard Tackle, Tribuna, Goal, The Athletic, SportsCafe.