Donyell Malen Leaves

Exactly a year to the day since his signing, Donyell Malen leaves Villa, joining AS Roma on loan with an obligation to buy set at €25m (subject to conditions).

It's a bizarre transfer all told, especially when we are reliably informed that Unai Emery rates him as a player and ideally wanted to keep him in the squad. Seemingly, nothing makes sense in a world of PSR and SCR, but more than most, this transfer seems odd.

Donyell Malen | 🇳🇱 | 2025-26 🕒 46 | ✅ 13 | 🔁 33 | ⚽ 10 | 🔥 2

Full Player Profile: https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/player/donyell-malen

We are told that the driving force behind the move is Malen's desire to play more football. However, Malen, signed from Borussia Dortmund, made 132 appearances for the German club across his four seasons there, an average of 33 appearances per season. At Villa, Malen has made 46 appearances in his calendar year. At his previous club, PSV Eindhoven, Malen made 116 appearances over 4 seasons averageing 29 per campaign. So Malen's playing time has increased 39% at Villa over Dortmund, and 59% over his time at PSV.

Something doesn't stack up.

Especially when factoring in that Villa signed him 12 months ago for the same €25m fee. We need a no.10, not another no. 9, goes the logic, so Malen can leave.

So why the links to definitely not a no. 10 and definitely a striker, Tammy Abraham? Something doesn't add up, and it's not only Villa's seeming failure to ever maximise transfer fees.

Presumably, someone is arriving who can play as a number 10; if not, this seems like a major and unnecessary weakening of the squad just as the game volume is about to lift off again.

But maybe that's what Harvey Elliott's been doing for the last six months - learning to play as a ten.

Or maybe Unai has a plan.