Paulo Dybala has joined AS Roma on free transfer with contract valid until June 2025 that will also include a release clause.
José Mourinho has been key factor to complete this huge signing for Roma.
The Italian capital-based club were in a three-way tussle with Napoli and Inter Milan to secure the 28-year-old’s services after he left Juventus as a free agent at the end of last month.
The Argentina international’s deal will be until 2025 and worth £5million (€6m) a year, including bonuses, at the Stadio Olimpico.
Dybala flew to Portugal earlier this week – where Roma are currently on pre-season – to complete his medical before joining up with Mourinho and his new team-mates.
Fabrizio Romano revealed that the Portuguese manager personally spoke with Dybala on the phone a week ago to convince him to join.
It appears that conversation was crucial to Dybala as Mourinho explained Roma’s project to him.
It seemed Dybala was set for a move to last season’s Serie A runners-up Inter Milan.
However, that move was later scuppered due to the requests from Dybala’s agent and their need to sell either Edin Dzeko or Joaquin Correa after Romelu Lukaku’s arrival.
The delay opened the door for Roma, with Mourinho pushing hard to seal the move for the five-time Serie A winner.
It continues the Italian side’s push to complete their business early in the transfer window, with Zeki Celik, Nemanja Matic and Mile Svilar having already come through the door.
Roma:
The club is delighted to be able to announce the signing of forward Paulo Dybala.
Dybala, 28, has signed a three-year contract with AS Roma that runs until 30 June 2025.
“The days that have led up to me signing this contract have been filled with so many emotions,” Dybala said.
“The speed and determination with which Roma demonstrated just how much they wanted me made all the difference.
“I am joining a team that is on the up, a club that continues to put in place strong foundations for the future, and a coach, Jose Mourinho, that it will be a privilege to work with.
“As an opponent I have always admired the atmosphere created by the Roma fans – I now cannot wait for the chance to salute them while wearing this shirt.”
A five-time Serie A champion, Dybala began his career in his native Argentina with Instituto, before going on to represent both Palermo and Juventus in Italy.
Alongside his league titles, he has also won the Coppa Italia on four occasions and the Italian Supercup a further three times.
Dybala was named Serie A’s Most Valuable Player in 2020, and has been selected in the league’s Team of the Season on four separate occasions.
A full Argentina international, Dybala has made 34 appearances for the Albiceleste.
The most recent of his three goals for his country came in June’s ‘Finalissima’ victory over Italy at Wembley Stadium.
He has already joined up with his new teammates at the Giallorossi’s training camp in Portugal and will begin preparations for the new season this week.
“Paulo’s decision to join our project is a testament to the club’s credibility and a sign of the hard work that, all together, we are putting in to take Roma forward,” Tiago Pinto, the club’s General Manager, added.
“Paulo is a world-renowned player who has won major trophies and gained global acclaim; he will bring that class with him to Roma and I am sure that, with him in the squad, we will be even stronger and more competitive.”
Dybala has opted to wear the No. 21 shirt for the club.
Nemanja Matic, who originally selected the shirt number when he joined the Giallorossi last month, will switch to wear No. 8 instead.
Dybala regularly wears the No. 21 shirt for the national team, while he also wore it during his first two seasons at Juventus.
Welcome to Roma, Paulo!