Eight months ago, Donyell Malen was barely making a ripple at Aston Villa. Seriously, the guy was struggling to get anything going. Now, though, it’s a completely different story: the Donyell Malen tearing it up at Roma has scored more goals than any other player across Europe’s top five leagues since his debut on January 18. This dude’s turnaround is absolutely wild.
Malen’s Insane Goal Surge
Since that January 18 debut, Malen has bagged 20 goals. Let that sink in. That’s more than Harry Kane, who’s sitting at 16, and Lamine Yamal, with 15, in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 during the same stretch. He isn’t just scoring, either. Malen also leads all those leagues with a combined 22 goals and assists. He’s ahead of Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, who has 20, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal with 19, and even Bayern’s Kane, who has 18. His contribution in front of goal is unmatched. Back at Villa, he only managed 10 goals and two assists in 46 appearances. In Rome? He’s got 21 goals and three assists in just 25 matches. His scoring rate jumped from a goal every 149.8 minutes at Villa to an insane 96.7 minutes per goal for Roma. We’re talking about two totally different players, right?
Roma’s Secret Weapon: Playing Him Up Top
So, what’s the deal? How did this happen? It looks like Roma’s system, not necessarily a huge change in Malen’s own game, is the secret sauce. At Villa, he was kinda shuffled around the frontline, only playing as a central striker for 52% of his league minutes. But at Roma, under manager Gian Piero Gasperini, Malen has spent a whopping 99% of his Serie A minutes right through the middle. They’ve made him the focal point, putting him exactly where he can do the most damage. French football journalist Julien Laurens summed it up on Match of the Day, saying Malen has been “incredible since January.” Laurens added that Malen has been “really efficient, super clinical,” and “at the heart of everything they do with the ball,” even after Malen set up his side’s goal in a 1-1 Champions League draw with Fenerbahce. This isn’t just about confidence, it’s about the right role.
Serie A: Where Former Premier League Talent Shines
Malen isn’t the only one who’s found a new lease on life in Italy. It’s becoming a bit of a trend for ex-Premier League players to thrive in Serie A. Take Scott McTominay, the former Manchester United midfielder, now at Napoli. Since joining in August 2024, he’s bagged 22 Serie A goals, with only five players scoring more. Napoli fans have even put up a street shrine for him! And Rasmus Hojlund, another former United striker now with Napoli, has also seen an upturn. He’s recorded 19 goal involvements since his debut, a number only topped by Federico Dimarco, Lautaro Martinez, and Malen. These guys prove that a move to Serie A, and finding the right environment and role, can truly transform a player. For Malen, though, this transformation has been epic.
Malen’s story is still unfolding, but if Roma keeps him upfront, focused in that central striker role, the rest of Europe better get ready. He’s showing everyone that sometimes, it’s not the player that needs to change, but how you use them. It’s awesome to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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