Roma sign Castro in €35m deal from Bologna

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Peter Young | Last updated Jul 30, 2026 6:50 AM ET

Roma have officially announced the signing of centre-forward Santiago Castro on a permanent transfer from Bologna.

Official: Roma sign Castro from Bologna

Castro becomes Roma’s first new signing of the summer transfer window. He joins at a cost of €35m plus bonuses, with his former club Bologna holding onto a 10% sell-on clause.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – MARCH 08: Santiago Castro of Bologna controls the ball during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Hellas Verona FC at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Roma’s Artem Dovbyk, meanwhile, is expected to move in the opposite direction on an initial loan deal with an option to buy for a fee in the region of €17m.

Castro has reportedly signed a five-year deal at the Stadio Olimpico, which will see him through until the summer of 2031. He has decided to wear the no.9 shirt during his first season in the capital.

Castro provided eight goals and five assists from 36 appearances during his first full season in Serie A in 2024-25 and went on to add a further seven goals and three assists from 35 league outings in 2025-26.

He is expected to come in and compete with Donyell Malen for the starting centre-forward spot under Gian Piero Gasperini.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 11: Santiago Castro of Bologna celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Coppa Italia match between Bologna FC and SS Lazio at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on February 11, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

“AS Roma is pleased to announce the arrival of Santiago Tomàs Castro from Bologna FC. The transaction ends with the definitive transfer,” read a statement on the club website.

“The forward, born in 2004, has worn the shirts of Bologna and Vélez Sarsfield. With the Rossoblù he played 105 games and scored 22 goals.He chose the jersey number 9.

“Welcome to Rome, Santiago!”

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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