Roma Add €16m Marseille Defender Leonardo Balerdi on Loan
Roma have completed an agreement with Olympique de Marseille to sign defender Leonardo Balerdi on a season-long loan. The deal involves an initial €1m fee for the loan period, alongside a €15m purchase option that is expected to convert into a mandatory purchase obligation.
The 27-year-old centre-back moves to Italian football after completing his medical checks in Rome. He arrives with experience across multiple European leagues, having played in Germany and France before taking up this opportunity in Serie A.
Leonardo Balerdi
playerBalerdi brings significant top-flight experience to his new club, having built up 200 appearances across all competitions for Marseille, including 153 games in Ligue 1. His career resume also features 11 senior caps for Argentina, alongside previous spells with Borussia Dortmund and Boca Juniors.
Balerdi Brings Experienced Central Defense to Roma
The Argentine defender provides immediate central defensive reinforcement for Roma ahead of the new campaign. His primary work at Marseille centered on standard backline duties, giving the Italian side a proven option to slot directly into their defensive rotation.
Marseille
clubShirt Number 26 Assigned to Roma’s Fifth Summer Signing
Balerdi will wear shirt number 26 during his debut season in Rome. He becomes the club’s fifth major first-team addition of the summer transfer window, joining earlier recruits Santiago Castro, Rodrigo Mora, Konstantinos Koulierakis, and Nahuel Molina.
Financial Terms of the Balerdi Transfer Deal
The financial arrangement allows Roma to manage their immediate transfer costs by paying €1m upfront for the initial season. A further €15m fee remains attached to the move under the future purchase clause.
| Deal Component | Financial Value |
|---|---|
| Initial Loan Fee | €1m |
| Purchase Option / Obligation | €15m |
| Total Potential Deal Cost | €16m |
Roma Official Statement.