Roma’s Donyell Malen becomes Europe’s top scorer with 20 goals since January

Six months ago, Donyell Malen was a fringe player at Aston Villa, logging appearances without making much of a dent. Today, he is the most prolific scorer in Europe’s top five leagues since January 2026, with 20 goals in 25 matches for AS Roma. Since his debut for the Giallorossi on January 18, 2026, the 27-year-old Dutch forward has outscored every other player across Europe’s elite divisions, leaving names like Harry Kane (16 goals in the same period) and Lamine Yamal (15) in his wake. From squad afterthought to Serie A weapon The numbers at Villa tell one story. In 46 appearances for the Birmingham club, Malen managed 10 goals and 2 assists, converting roughly once every 149.8 minutes of football. At Roma, the same player converts once every 96.7 minutes. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini has placed Malen at the center of Roma’s system rather than on its edges, shifting him into a central striking role. In total across all competitions for Roma, Malen has 21 goals and 3 assists in 25 appearances. A transfer that nearly did not happen The move began as a loan in January 2026. When the club secured Champions League qualification, the loan converted into a permanent deal at a fee of €25...