In a significant boost for their Champions League aspirations, AS Roma has secured a major signing by acquiring Artem Dovbyk, the 27-year-old top scorer of La Liga. This comes just two days after the arrival of Matias Soule. The deal reached an agreement after a lengthy negotiation, with Roma’s owners, the Friedkin family, finalizing the transfer in the afternoon.
Initially, it seemed the deal might falter when Girona, Dovbyk’s current club, opted to start him in a friendly against Toulouse, where he played until the 43rd minute. Girona had been holding out for 35 million euros plus 5 million in bonuses for the forward, despite Roma’s offer of 32 million plus 6 in bonuses. Dovbyk had also been considering an earlier agreement with Atletico Madrid, but he was unhappy with unmet promises from that club, which strained relations with Girona.
To move things along, Roma’s CEO Lina Souloukou traveled to Girona to meet with club officials, alongside the player’s agent, Liundovskyi, and Alona Iurchenko, a legal advisor. After discussions over dinner the night before, the player expressed his eagerness to don the Roma jersey. Dan Friedkin insisted on closing the deal swiftly.
In the negotiations, Roma’s sporting director proposed adjustments to the offer, aiming to increase the guaranteed amount to 34 million and lower the bonuses to about 4 million. However, Pere Guardiola, the club’s CEO and brother of Pep Guardiola, held firm, demanding an additional 20 million upon signing.
A lengthy meeting between the two clubs this morning included a crucial lunch break and led to a breakthrough when Souloukou finalized the figures at 38 million euros, including bonuses, plus a 15% share of any future sale. The contract is expected to be signed tomorrow, following the standard formalities associated with such a significant transaction that brings the Friedkins’ total spending to 100 million euros in July alone.
Roma quickly moved to outpace competition from clubs like West Ham, and despite some challenges, they have successfully completed the transfer. Dovbyk now becomes the third most expensive signing in Roma’s history, surpassing the legendary Batistuta, who was acquired for around 36.5 million euros. He is also the second signing of the Friedkin era following Tammy Abraham’s 41 million euro move.
Eager to play for Roma, Dovbyk had received supportive calls from club legend Daniele De Rossi and Texan president Dan Friedkin. He will sign a five-year contract worth 3 million euros plus bonuses. Dovbyk is coming off a remarkable season in Europe, having scored 24 goals and provided 8 assists in 36 appearances, showcasing an impressive impact rate in the opposition’s box, outdoing players like Erling Haaland and Lautaro Martinez.
The transfer was also facilitated by Dovbyk’s wife, Yuliia, who has been instrumental in pushing for the move to Roma and handles her husband’s social media and public relations. Fans can soon expect a warm welcome for Dovbyk at Fiumicino Airport in the coming days as he arrives in the Italian capital.
