Artem Dovbyk, the new striker for AS Roma, proudly wears the number 11 shirt and is eager to repay the trust placed in him by the Friedkin family. With a smile reflecting his excitement, Dovbyk is ready to impress in Serie A after making waves in La Liga. “How am I doing? I’m really happy right now,” the Ukrainian said in a club interview. “But I know there’s more pressure here, and I will feel it especially. Roma has a great history and is a significant club. Girona is a small club in comparison. But without pressure, there’s no football.”
Dovbyk revealed that the Friedkin family played a crucial role in his transfer. “I spoke with Dan and Ryan Friedkin—I had never spoken to a president before a move. This convinced me to come here. I want to thank them; I felt a lot of trust. Coach De Rossi also explained some tactical details and conveyed the strength of this club to me. After feeling this, I had a positive emotion, which is why I made this choice.”
This decision ultimately led Dovbyk to turn down Atlético Madrid, a club that participates in the Champions League and is considered one of Europe’s best. “But Roma has a project that I find important and truly believe in. I hope we can achieve something interesting next season. The affection from the fans and seeing 70,000 people in the stadium for every match also made a difference.”
Dovbyk will join renowned players like Dybala, Pellegrini, and Soulè. “These are top players with great qualities. Everyone knows their skills, and I hope they can create many opportunities for me. I will try to turn them into goals.”
Reflecting on his departure from Girona, Dovbyk shared, “Last season was extraordinary for me and Girona, which qualified for the Champions League for the first time in its history. It was fantastic to come out on top among so many champions and win the top scorer title.”
When discussing his football idols, Dovbyk couldn’t help but mention Andriy Shevchenko, who also gave him his first cap for Ukraine. “He is my idol, the best Ukrainian player in history and one of the best in the world. Like me, he played in Italy. I had visited Rome before, but due to COVID, I didn’t see much of it. It’s a wonderful city, and now I can explore it.”
Just before the interview, Dovbyk’s transfer to Roma was officially confirmed. The fee for the 27-year-old is €38 million in total (€33 million fixed plus €5 million in bonuses), with Roma retaining a 10% resale percentage. Dovbyk has signed a contract worth €3.5 million per year, tying him to the club for the next five seasons. Last year, he made a significant impact with Girona, scoring 24 goals and providing 8 assists, culminating in the historic Champions League qualification and topping the league’s scoring charts.
“Dovbyk is the first Ukrainian player in the history of AS Roma,” stated the club’s announcement. “The Friedkin family’s investment brings Roma one of the top scorers in international football. For the first time, the club has signed the top scorer from a European league in the previous season. This has never happened before, even with renowned names like Balbo, Batistuta, Dzeko, Montella, Pruzzo, Voeller, and Vucinic.”