Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey has joined Roma on loan for the 2025-26 season, with the Jamaica international looking to revive his form in Serie A.
The deal reportedly includes a £19million option to make the move permanent. Roma, managed by Gian Piero Gasperini, finished fifth in Serie A last season and have already added Brighton striker Evan Ferguson to their squad this summer.
Bailey, 28, joined Villa from Bayer Leverkusen in a £25m deal in 2021 and has since made 144 appearances, scoring 22 goals.
He was a regular starter under Unai Emery in his first two seasons, but injuries and form limited his minutes in the latter stages of last year.
Bailey enjoyed his best season in 2023-24, hitting a career-high 14 goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions. Last term, as Villa reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, he scored and assisted in the last-16 win over Club Brugge before Emery’s side were knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain.
But it proved to be a rare highlight in an otherwise disappointing campaign that saw him register only two goals in 38 games and slip down the pecking order as Villa reinforced their attack.
Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey has joined Roma on loan for the 2025-26 season, with the Jamaica international looking to revive his form in Serie A
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side have already added Brighton striker Evan Ferguson to their squad this summer
The winger signed a new contract in February 2024 running until 2027, but the option-to-buy clause in his Roma loan means this season could prove decisive in shaping his long-term future.
Bailey’s switch also continues a busy summer of outgoings at Villa Park, with midfielder Leander Dendoncker joining Real Oviedo and reports linking other squad players with exits before the deadline.
Roma will hope Bailey can rediscover the spark that made him such a threat in the Bundesliga.