Official: Roma announce Balerdi signing from Marseille

Roma have confirmed the signing of Argentine centre-back Leonardo Balerdi from Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille on loan with an option to make the deal permanent. The 27-year-old Argentine will join the Giallorossi on a season-long loan deal, reportedly costing €1m, with an extra €15m to be paid to secure the transfer permanently.

Balerdi underwent his medical examination with Roma following his arrival at Ciampino Airport on Saturday. His move marks the fifth new signing for Roma this summer, after the arrivals of Santiago Castro, Rodrigo Mora, Konstantinos Koulierakis, and Nahuel Molina.

The centre-back has spent the past six seasons in France with Marseille, where he has made 200 appearances in all competitions, including 153 in Ligue 1. Before his time at Marseille, Balerdi also played for Borussia Dortmund and Boca Juniors, and has represented Argentina at the senior level, earning 11 caps.

In his first season at Roma's Stadio Olimpico, Balerdi will wear the number 26 shirt.