Roma agree deal to sign Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi, reports say

Roma have reached an agreement with Olympique de Marseille to sign Argentine defender Leonardo Balerdi during the current summer transfer window, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The proposed move would initially see Balerdi join Roma on a season-long loan, with the Italian club given an option to make the transfer permanent. That option would become an obligation to buy if specific conditions are met.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the agreement between the two clubs has been completed, with Balerdi expected to travel to Rome tonight. The defender is due to undergo a medical before signing the relevant contracts.

The condition attached to the permanent transfer is based on Balerdi’s appearances for Roma. If he plays in 15 matches and completes at least 45 minutes in each of those games, Roma’s option to buy will automatically become mandatory.

The move would represent Roma’s seventh signing of the current summer transfer window, although the club have officially completed six deals so far.

Roma signed Daniele Ghilardi from Hellas Verona, Nahuel Molina from Atletico de Madrid and Konstantinos Koulierakis from VfL Wolfsburg.

The club have also brought in Rodrigo Mora from Porto and Santiago Castro from Bologna. In addition, Roma activated the option to buy Donyell Malen from Aston Villa.

Balerdi’s proposed arrival would therefore add another player to a summer recruitment programme that has already included permanent transfers and an option-to-buy agreement. However, the transfer remains subject to the Argentine completing his medical and putting pen to paper on the contracts.

The agreement with Olympique de Marseille is structured around a temporary move at first, with the possibility of becoming a permanent transfer if Balerdi reaches the required number of appearances and playing-time threshold.

Roma’s deal for the defender is consequently dependent on his involvement during the season. Fifteen appearances of at least 45 minutes each would be enough to trigger the compulsory purchase clause, according to the report.

Balerdi is expected in Rome tonight for the next formal steps in the transfer. Once the medical has been completed and the contracts signed, the move will add him to the list of players officially recruited by Roma during the summer window.