Kluivert swaps Roma for Leipzig on loan

Justin Kluivert has joined RB Leipzig on a season-long loan from Roma. 

Roma paid an initial €17.25million to sign Kluivert from Ajax in June 2018 and he has scored nine goals in 68 appearances for the club. 

Following the arrivals of Borja Mayoral and Pedro at the Stadio Olimpico, however, the 21-year-old has been allowed to leave for Leipzig and is looking forward to the chance to play in the Champions League. 

“I am glad that the move to RB Leipzig worked out. RB Leipzig showed me in the good conversations we had that the move here is ideal to develop myself further, to take the proverbial next step and to help the team in this way,” said Kluivert. 

“My goal is to gain match practice here. The Bundesliga is one of the best leagues in the world with high quality, and exciting challenges await us in the Champions League, including Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United – I’m really looking forward to that.”

Justin Kluivert joins #DieRotenBullen on loan from @ASRomaEN

#DieRotenBullen #JustInTime pic.twitter.com/RLP30cX0cO

— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) October 5, 2020

Roma are said to be hoping to bolster their defensive options with a move for Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling, who spent last season on loan with the Serie A side.

However, it has been reported that a disparity in United’s demands and what Roma are willing to pay could make a deadline day move for Smalling difficult.