Bailey Set to Become the First-Ever Jamaican to Play for AS Roma
Cassava Piece-born star prepares to tackle Italy’s Serie A ahead of helping the Reggae Boyz reach next year’s World Cup finals
Leon Bailey, an outcast at Aston Villa, has verbally agreed to join ambitious AS Roma on a season-long €2 million (US$2.3m) loan with an option to buy for €23m (US$26.9m).
The 28-year-old’s representatives arrived in Italy over the weekend to finalise a deal with the Giallorossi club, with versatile winger Bailey due to land in the capital for a medical and to sign a contract.
Born in Cassava Piece, north of Kingston, Bailey moved to Europe aged 13 and worked his way through up the ranks to make an impact in the Belgian Pro League, German Bundesliga and the Premier League.
Bailey joined KFC Genk in August 2015, scoring 15 goals in 77 matches, which earned him a big move to the Bundesliga in January 2017.
He was a popular figure at Bayer Leverkusen thanks to his creativity, pace, prowess and goals. His dynamic performances earned a national call-up in June 2019, finding the back of net seven times from 39 matches for Jamaica.
Bailey netted 39 times in 156 appearances at Leverkusen before a switch to Aston Villa in August 2021, having previously rejected the opportunity to sign for Chelsea.
His Villa career has been hampered by various injuries, although he was a key figure during their 2023/24 campaign with 14 strikes and 14 goal assists.
Bailey has only bagged 22 goals in 144 outings for Villa, so has dropped down the pecking order and is not part of Unai Emery’s plans and suffered limited playing opportunities.
Advanced negotiations for a lucrative deal to join NEOM SC, a newly-promoted team in the Saudi Pro League, collapsed in May.
Although under contract with Villa until June 2027, he has the chance to revitalise his career under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The 67-year-old moved to Roma from Atalanta in the summer, taking over the reins from Italian compatriot Claudio Ranieri who won the 2015/16 Premier League with Leicester City.
Bailey has selected Roma rather than ply his trade in the Turkish Super Lig at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Besiktas, and was previously linked with a move to Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.
He favours playing on the right wing but can be utilised on the left flank or as a right midfielder.
Bailey will become only the fourth Jamaican player to compete in the Italian top tier, following in the footsteps of Rolando Aarons (Verona), Ravel Morrison (Lazio) and Trivante Stewart (Salernitana).
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