Roma have confirmed the signing of World Cup-winning defender Mats Hummels following the expiration of his contract with Borussia Dortmund.
The 35-year-old joins Daniele de Rossi's side on the back of a marvellous 2023-24 season, in which he was hailed as one of the best players in Europe during Dortmund's run to the Champions League final.
Hummels's exploits in Germany earned him a nomination for the 2024 Ballon d'Or award, although he left Dortmund as a free agent at the end of the season, just one day after the exit of manager Edin Terzic.
Hummels - who had apparently become disenchanted with Terzic's tactics - was not short of offers to continue his career in Europe, and a move to Real Sociedad or West Ham United was strongly mooted for the 35-year-old.
However, neither side made significant progress in their pursuit of Hummels, who was confirmed as Roma's latest recruit on Wednesday evening, taking the number 15 jersey at Stadio Olimpico.
That shirt was once worn by Giallorossi legend Francesco Totti in the 1995-96 season, as well as former star midfielder Miralem Pjanic and most recently Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
🤝 Welcome to Roma, Mats Hummels! 🇩🇪 #ASRoma pic.twitter.com/r8uZBLEViX
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) September 4, 2024
Hummels replaces Chris Smalling at Roma
"Hey Giallorossi fans, this is Mats, your new player," the defender said in a video message posted to Roma's X account. "I'm really happy to play for this club in front of you and see you in the stadium. Daje Roma!"
Over his two spells at both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, Hummels made 442 appearances in the Bundesliga, scoring 33 goals, and he played over 500 times for last season's Champions League runners-up.
Only Michael Zorc (572) made more appearances for Dortmund than Hummels's 508, and the centre-back has won 17 major honours over his career, including the 2014 World Cup and six Bundesliga titles.
The Germany international - who did not make his country's squad for Euro 2024 - is the second centre-back to sign for Roma this summer after Mario Hermoso, while Chris Smalling has left the club to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Fayha.
Roma sit 17th in the Serie A table, having failed to win any of their first three games of the new season, and De Rossi's side return to action away to Genoa on September 15.
Ben Knapton
