Former BVB duo reunited soon? Barça keen on Roma star Donyell Malen | OneFootball

Is FC Barcelona becoming a branch office of Borussia Dortmund? Karim Adeyemi (24) is already there. Now Donyell Malen (27) could be the next to follow, another player who once chased goals in black and yellow.

You could hardly ask for a better start: on the opening matchday of Serie A, Malen almost single-handedly fired AS Roma to a 4-0 win over AC Florence with a hat-trick. Thanks to the emphatic victory, the Giallorossi surged to the top of the table.

Malen is simply picking up where he left off last season. In his 18 league matches for Roma in 2025/26, the former Dortmund man has always been in the starting lineup. The Dutchman found the net no fewer than 14 times. The switch from winger to a traditional number nine has paid off in full for the 27-year-old, as his outstanding performances since joining Roma at the start of 2026 clearly show.

According to information from fichajes.net, his impressive record has put FC Barcelona on alert. Despite already boasting plenty of attacking firepower, the Catalans are still scanning the market for reinforcements up front. According to the report, Malen has now emerged as a target for the Blaugrana.

Sticking point: transfer fee

The decisive factor appears to be the transfer fee. Roma only paid Aston Villa €25 million for Malen in May 2026. Since then, his market value has almost doubled to around €45 million.

But the Italians hold all the cards. The capital club can either keep their top scorer or cash in on a hefty transfer profit if the right offer arrives. Thanks to a long-term contract running until 2030, the Giallorossi are in an excellent negotiating position and are under no financial pressure whatsoever.

Photo: Getty Images

The Catalans are by no means alone in their interest in the former BVB pro. Alongside Barça, Manchester City and Atlético Madrid are also said to have Malen on their shortlist. That sets the stage for an exciting tug-of-war over Roma’s star striker in the final days of the summer transfer window.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.