Despite stronger competition: Ex-BVB professional Hummels moves to AS Roma

Over 500 games for BVB

After his contract with Borussia Dortmund expired, Mats Hummels was linked with various clubs. The speculation surrounding the 35-year-old central defender has now come to an end, as he has joined AS Roma and signed until 2025. After Mario Hermoso (Atlético Madrid), he is the second player that the Giallorossi have signed after deadline day. Like Hummels, the Spaniard plays in central defense and is not the only well-known competitor he will be up against.

Hummels, who was the most valuable German without a club with a market value of 5 million euros, was traded with RCD Mallorca, Real Sociedad San Sebastián, Brighton & Hove Albion and FC Bologna, among others. However, the 78-time German international never made a concrete move, so it took until after the transfer window for him to really find a new club. For Hummels, who has experience of 626 games for Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern, this is his first stop abroad.

AS Roma: Big competition awaits Hummels

In the summer, AS Roma spent 91.1 million euros on nine players, but concentrated on the offensive. Roma paid 30.5 million euros against FC Girona for striker Artem Dovbyk, the second biggest signing in the club’s history. In addition, a central midfielder and a winger were brought in for a lot of money: Enzo Le Fée (23 million; Stade Rennes) and Matías Soulé (25.6 million; Juventus Turin). Three full-backs were also signed: Angeliño, Samuel Dahl and Saud Abdulhamid, but no new players were added to the centre of defence.

After Chris Smalling left Roma on Monday for Al-Fayha in Saudi Arabia, Hermoso was signed on the same day. In addition to him, coach Daniele De Rossi has two other central defenders at his disposal, Evan Ndicka and Gianluca Mancini – all of whom have a market value of €25 million each. The competition for Hummels, now by far the oldest player in the squad, is fierce, meaning the veteran will have to fight for a regular place. With two points from three games, the capital city team’s start to Serie A seemed poor.