LEON BAILEY COMPLETES LOAN MOVE FROM ASTON VILLA TO ROMA
Jamaica international Leon Bailey has officially joined AS Roma on loan from Aston Villa for the 2025-26 season, with the Italian giants securing an option to make the transfer permanent.
The 28-year-old winger will be hoping to reignite his form in Serie A after a mixed spell in the Premier League. Bailey moved to Villa Park in the summer of 2021, arriving from German side Bayer Leverkusen in a £25m deal, and has since made 144 appearances, scoring 22 goals across all competitions.
His most prolific season came in 2023-24, when he registered 14 goals and several assists in 52 matches, becoming a key figure in Villa’s attack. However, the following year proved far more challenging, with Bailey scoring just twice in 38 games, leading to questions about his role under Unai Emery’s evolving system.
Despite those struggles, Villa showed faith in the Jamaican by handing him a new contract in February 2024, committing him to the club until 2027. Yet with increased competition for attacking places and Villa strengthening their forward line in the transfer market, Bailey has now been allowed to seek regular football in Italy.
For Roma, the move represents a calculated gamble on a player with proven talent but inconsistent output. Bailey’s blistering pace, direct dribbling style, and eye for goal could make him a valuable weapon in the club’s bid to push for a top-four finish in Serie A and challenge in European competitions.
Bailey himself is relishing the opportunity, with sources close to the player suggesting he views this as a “fresh start” and a chance to showcase his qualities on a new stage. Roma fans will be hoping he can quickly adapt and deliver the kind of dynamic performances that once made him one of Europe’s most exciting wide players during his Bundesliga days.
If Bailey impresses, Roma could trigger the option-to-buy clause, making his stay in the Italian capital permanent beyond the 2025-26 season.
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