Mats Hummels: Former BVB star signs with AS Roma

Former football world champion Mats Hummels is continuing his career in Italy. The 35-year-old will play for AS Roma, as the Serie A club announced. The central defender is moving to the Italian capital on a free transfer. Because he is not under contract, Hummels was able to join his new club even after the transfer window had expired.

“Hey Giallorosso fans, this is Mats, the new player. I’m very happy to play for this club in front of you and I’ll see you in the stadium,” said Hummels in a video shared by the club. The defender has already trained with his new team and was seen in photos next to ex-Leipzig player Angeliño. Roma did not specify a contract term, but according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano it will be for a year. He will wear the number 15.

Hummels’ contract with Borussia Dortmund expired at the end of last season. After that, there was a lot of speculation about the 2014 world champion. In addition to Real Sociedad San Sebastián from Spain, Brighton & Hove Albion from England and FC Bologna were also said to be interested, and there was also speculation about a move to Mallorca. According to the media, teams from the USA were also said to be interested. Hummels had been amused by the many rumors for a while.

Mats Hummels always played in Germany

For the Bergisch Gladbach native, it is the first foreign stop of his career. The long-time Bundesliga professional has so far only played for Dortmund and FC Bayern Munich. Several prominent German professionals have already played for AS Roma, including national player Antonio Rüdiger and the current DFB sports director Rudi Völler. According to the club’s facilities, Hummels is the seventh German to wear the club’s jersey.

Hummels was trained in the Bayern youth team and made his professional debut there in 2007. He was loaned out to Dortmund in January 2008. In the summer of 2009, BVB signed him permanently, and he won the championship titles in 2011 and 2012. In 2016, the now experienced international player returned to Bayern as the World Champion of Rio. Hummels celebrated three more championships with the record champions. In the summer of 2019, he returned to the Ruhr area. He won the cup again with BVB in 2021.

In total, the defender played 442 Bundesliga games (33 goals) and 90 Champions League games (five goals). Hummels made his last of 78 international appearances last November in the 2-0 defeat in Austria. He was not nominated by national coach Julian Nagelsmann for the European Championships at home this summer, despite strong performances at the end of the season.