Bologna Agree Loan Deal to Sign Artem Dovbyk from AS Roma Until June 2027

One of Serie A’s most compelling loan moves of the summer is now done. Bologna have agreed a loan deal with AS Roma to sign Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk until June 30, 2027. The Ukrainian striker, never a key figure in Gian Piero Gasperini’s coaching project, is joining on loan until June 30, 2027. He arrived in Bologna to undergo his club medical before signing his new contract. The deal is a paid loan with an option to buy, replacing Santiago Castro who has departed in the opposite direction.

Who is Artem Dovbyk?

Artem Oleksandrovych Dovbyk was born on 21 June 1997 in Cherkasy, Ukraine. He stands at 1.89m and plays as a striker.

After a free move from Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk to FC Midtjylland and a loan to Sønderjyske, Dovbyk returned to Ukraine before moving to Girona.

During his debut season in Spain with Girona FC, Dovbyk achieved international recognition by winning the Pichichi Trophy as La Liga’s top scorer in 2023–24, netting 24 goals in 36 appearances to edge out competitors like Robert Lewandowski and Ante Budimir.

Throughout his career, Artem Dovbyk has won four titles: Superligaen (2017/18) and the DBU Pokalen (2018/19) with FC Midtjylland, DBU Pokalen (2019/20) with Sønderjyske, and the Cupa Moldova (2015/16) with FC Balti.

Career Timeline

The Deal: How It Came Together

A potential loan transfer of Artem Dovbyk from Roma to Bologna was considered as part of a broader negotiation that also involves Santiago Castro. Santiago Castro will move to the Italian capital for 35 million euros plus 10% sell-on clause.

The Ukrainian striker had been involved in discussions with Bologna following Santiago Castro’s confirmed move to Roma. Dovbyk headed the other way as he looks to bounce back from a difficult 2025/26 season. Artem Dovbyk’s move to Bologna is a done deal — the player gave his final decision to the Rossoblu, accepting the loan move, as confirmed by Sky Sport.

Direct contact with Domenico Tedesco was also crucial to Dovbyk’s arrival. He spoke with the striker between Sunday evening and Monday morning to convince him to join the Rossoblu.

The Loan Fee & Option to Buy

The deal is a paid loan with an option to buy. The loan is worth €3 million, with the option to buy set between €18 and €20 million.

The Ukrainian left-footed striker will arrive on loan with an option to buy for around €16–18 million — that is, the figure which, in the event of a buyout in a year’s time, would allow the Giallorossi to avoid a negative impact on their balance sheet.

Salary Structure

According to Nicolo Schira, Artem Dovbyk is nearing a loan move to Bologna from AS Roma, with Roma prepared to pay a part of his €3.5m-a-year salary to complete the deal. Dovbyk has a gross annual salary of €6.2 million, or €3 million net per season. Bologna will pay a good portion, but not all of it.

Salary & Fee Structure Summary

A Difficult Two Seasons at Roma

Dovbyk joined the Giallorossi in August 2024 for €41 million from Girona. After leading La Liga in scoring in the 2023–24 season, Dovbyk arrived in the Italian capital with outsized expectations. However, a combination of injuries and multiple managerial changes left him struggling to gain traction in Rome.

Dovbyk played 32 Serie A games last season for Roma, scored 12 goals and provided two assists.

Dovbyk’s 2025–26 Serie A season was more rotational than central: 14 appearances, three starts and 11 from the bench. In the 2025/26 Serie A season, Artem Dovbyk recorded 3 goals, 1 assist, and 386 minutes with an average FotMob rating of 6.59.

Roma Career Stats

Career-Wide Stats at a Glance

Other Clubs That Were Interested

The forward had also been recently linked with other clubs, including Fiorentina and Villarreal. In July 2026, Roma’s asking price was reportedly €18–20 million from Fiorentina and €23 million from Ajax.

The Double Deal with Roma: Santiago Castro Goes the Other Way

The Dovbyk loan is one half of an interconnected double deal between Bologna and Roma. After weeks of toiling away on the transfer market with nothing to show for their efforts, Roma completed a double-barrel deal with Bologna. Rather than going whole hog on a flashy winger, the Giallorossi decided to take a more sensible route, spending “only” €35 million to acquire Bologna forward Santiago Castro.

What Dovbyk Brings to Bologna

Dovbyk arrives at Bologna as a physically imposing, left-footed centre-forward with proven pedigree at the highest level. His 2023–24 Pichichi Trophy season at Girona demonstrated that when fit and confident, he is a world-class finisher. At 6ft 2in, he offers a powerful aerial presence and the ability to hold up play, which fits naturally into how Bologna like to build from the back under Domenico Tedesco.

In Ukraine, he was twice named the Komanda Footballer of the Year for his standout contributions in the Ukrainian Premier League. He also claimed the Ukrainian Premier League top scorer title in both the 2021–22 season (with 14 goals for Dnipro-1) and the 2022–23 season (with 24 goals for Dnipro-1), marking him as the league’s leading marksman on each occasion.

The loan move offers Dovbyk the platform he needs — regular football, a fresh environment, and a manager who personally called to persuade him. Bologna’s participation in European football adds further incentive.

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