Roma sign Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille on loan with option to buy

Roma have completed the signing of Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille, adding an experienced Argentina international to their defensive options before the close of the transfer window.

The 27-year-old centre-back arrives on loan with an option to buy, with Roma confirming the agreement on Sunday. The club did not disclose the financial terms, but Italian reports describe the package as a paid loan with a purchase clause worth around €15m-€16m that can become an obligation if certain conditions are met.

Balerdi gives Roma a defender with a deeper European record than a late-window squad addition would usually carry. He has played more than 200 official matches in Europe across spells with Borussia Dortmund and Marseille, while also earning 11 caps for Argentina. Roma have confirmed he will wear the No.26 shirt.

The move is significant because it strengthens a position in which Roma had been active but not settled. After looking at other defensive options during the final phase of the market, the club have moved for a player who can compete immediately rather than one being signed only for long-term development.

Balerdi spent six seasons in France with Marseille, where he became one of the club’s most recognisable defensive figures and built experience in Ligue 1 and European competition. His arrival gives Roma another aggressive centre-back profile, capable of defending forward and playing in a back line that may need more flexibility across domestic and European fixtures.

For Marseille, the deal removes a senior defender late in the window, although the structure keeps the final permanent value tied to Roma’s season and the conditions attached to the purchase clause. For Roma, the attraction is different: they have added a defender with international experience without immediately committing the full fee upfront.

The next test will be how quickly Balerdi is integrated into the squad. Roma have secured the signing, but the practical value of the move will depend on whether he can become part of the defensive rotation quickly enough to influence the opening months of the season.