AS Roma has made a significant move in the transfer market following a frustrating start to their league campaign. The Giallorossi have reached a total agreement with French club Lens to sign Austrian defender Kevin Danso. This deal was finalized late at night and confirmed in a meeting between the two clubs this morning.
Danso will join Roma on loan, with an obligation to buy for a total of around €24.5 million, the same amount Roma expects to receive from West Ham for striker Tammy Abraham. The 24-year-old was warmly celebrated by Lens supporters yesterday, who honored him with a banner outside the training ground. Danso pushed hard for the move to Rome and will earn €1.5 million plus bonuses over five years, double what he was making at Lens.
During his last two seasons in Ligue 1, Danso established himself as a standout player, earning recognition as the best defender in the league, which attracted interest from several clubs, including Atalanta.
He has a unique background, born in Austria to Ghanaian parents and possessing three passports, Danso speaks four languages and spent much of his youth playing rugby on concrete fields. His physical strength, ability to start plays, and speed—likely a result of his rugby background—make him an ideal fit for Roma’s defense as coach Daniele De Rossi seeks a solid starter.
Danso’s arrival may pave the way for a potential switch to a three-man defense, a formation used in the second half against Empoli. The coach is also looking to bring in a midfielder, with Manu Koné from Borussia Mönchengladbach currently the front-runner. However, in order to make room for new signings, a departure from the squad is necessary.