In a season full of twists and turns, Roma fans have received a double dose of good news: their team is officially Europa League-bound, and Dutch striker Donyell Malen will be staying at the Stadio Olimpico for good.

The Giallorossi have mathematically secured at least a spot in next season's Europa League, a development that triggered a mandatory €25 million transfer clause in Malen's loan deal from Aston Villa. The 27-year-old joined Roma on loan in January with an option to buy, but that option became an obligation if the club qualified for either the Champions League or the Europa League.

The qualification was sealed thanks to Inter Milan's Coppa Italia final victory over Lazio. Had Lazio won, they would have claimed one of the Europa League spots, pushing the sixth-place Serie A finisher down to the Conference League. Instead, with Inter's triumph, both the fifth and sixth-placed teams will compete in the Europa League for the 2026-27 season, while the seventh-place team heads to the Conference League.

Currently sitting fifth in Serie A with 67 points—level with fourth-placed AC Milan—Roma are in prime position. Como trails closely behind with 65 points and just two games remaining, keeping the pressure on.

Malen, meanwhile, has been a revelation since his arrival. In just 16 Serie A appearances, he's netted an impressive 13 goals and added two assists, transforming Roma's attack and proving to be well worth the investment. For a club looking to build momentum and compete on the European stage, locking in a striker of his caliber is a massive statement of intent.