Roma sign Argentina defender Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille

AS Roma have announced the signing of Argentina defender Leonardo Balerdi from Olympique de Marseille, with the player joining the Italian club on a season-long loan.

The agreement includes an option for Roma to make the transfer permanent, although that clause will become an obligation if specific conditions are met during the season. Balerdi has already arrived in Rome and completed his medical examination before signing the relevant contracts.

The 26-year-old will wear number 26 for the capital club, who have strengthened their squad with a series of new arrivals.

Reports on the deal state that Roma will be required to activate the purchase clause if Balerdi makes 15 appearances and plays at least 45 minutes in each of those matches. The condition means the loan agreement could automatically turn into a permanent transfer should the Argentina international reach the required number of qualifying appearances.

Roma confirmed the move on Sunday, completing the latest stage of their recruitment activity. Balerdi’s arrival gives the club another defensive option, while the structure of the agreement allows them to assess his contribution over the course of the campaign before the purchase clause is triggered unless the appearance requirement is fulfilled.

The defender had been playing for Olympique de Marseille before moving to Serie A. His transfer is part of an increasingly busy period for Roma, who have been active in the market across several positions.

The club have officially completed six deals so far, according to the source article. Those moves include the signing of Daniele Ghilardi from Hellas Verona, Nahuel Molina from Atletico de Madrid and Konstantinos Koulierakis from VfL Wolfsburg.

Roma have also brought in Rodrigo Mora from Porto and Santiago Castro from Bologna. In addition, they activated the purchase option on Donyell Malen’s deal from Aston Villa.

Balerdi’s transfer is therefore the latest announcement to emerge from Roma’s recruitment work, although the agreement differs from a straightforward permanent signing because it begins as a loan. The player’s medical examination has been completed, and the contracts are ready to formalise his move to the club.

The Argentina defender will now begin his time in Rome wearing the number 26 shirt. His future with Roma beyond the loan period will depend in particular on how often he plays and whether he reaches the 15-match threshold, with each appearance needing to include at least 45 minutes for the obligation to buy to apply.