While Roma’s top center-back pairing, Evan Ndicka and Gianluca Mancini, is fit and healthy, there was a worrying lack of depth behind them. With Marash Kumbulla off on loan for the third straight transfer window and Chris Smalling off to Saudi Arabia, the club suddenly needed reinforcements behind Ndicka and Mancini.
In these situations, clubs tend to go one of two ways: sign an up-and-coming defender and hope they hit the ground running or opt for the experience of a wily veteran. In this instance, Roma chose the former route, signing legendary German defender Mats Hummels to a one-year deal. Hummels, 36 in December, has spent his entire 18-year career in the Bundesliga, winning league titles with Borussia Dortmund (two) and Bayern Munich (three) while also earning numerous individual accolades, including being included on the 2023-2024 Champions League Team of the Season.
There’s experience, then there’s that experience. Given all that he accomplished in Germany, Hummels may very well be the most decorated central defender to suit up for Roma. And while he’s not exactly 25 years old anymore, Hummels was excellent for Dortmund last year, turning in over 3,000 minutes in all competitions while scoring four goals and providing one assist.
Hummels joins a defensive rotation that includes Ndicka, Mancini, and fellow free agent signing Mario Hermoso. Assuming all the necessary paperwork has been submitted, Hummels should be eligible for the club’s Europa League campaign.
