Mats Hummels changes free of charge to AS Rome: New era begins

Mats Hummels changes free of charge to AS Rome: New era begins

The former football world champion Mats Hummels has started a new phase of life in the Italian capital. The 35-year-old central defender will now play for AS Rome, as the club officially announced in Serie A. The change takes place free of charge, since Hummels had no valid contract, which enables him to join his new team even after the transfer period has expired.

The Roma contracts have not yet been officially communicated over the exact term. However, the renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano speaks of a one -year contract. Hummels will wear the number 15 in Rome, a number that gives him a new identity in his international career.

Career change and new challenges

The past few months were characterized by many speculations for Hummels after his contract at Borussia Dortmund expired at the end of the season. Several European clubs had expressed interest in the experienced defender. In addition to the Spanish Club Real Sociedad, Brighton & Hove Albion from England and the Serie-A competitor FC Bologna were also potential for a change. Rumors about a possible commitment to Mallorca and the interest of teams from the USA made the round, while Hummels took the many announcements with a smile.

For Hummels, the transfer to AS Rome is a significant step because it is his first wanderlike abroad in his career. Before moving to Rome, he played exclusively in the German Bundesliga, first for Borussia Dortmund and then for FC Bayern Munich. In Rome, he will meet a number of well-known German talents, including the international Antonio Rüdiger and the current DFB sports director Rudi Völler, both of whom had the colors of the club in the past. With this change, Hummels becomes the seventh German who creates the jersey of the AS Rome.

The career of the Bergisch-Gladbach-born began in the youth department of Bayern Munich, where he gave his professional debut in 2007. A year later he was awarded to Borussia Dortmund and quickly established himself as a key player. With the BVB Hummels won the championship in 2011 and 2012. After a short intermezzo near Bavaria, where he returned as a world champion and celebrated three other championships, his path led him to Dortmund again in 2019, where he won the DFB Cup in 2021.

Overall, his impressive balance sheet has 442 Bundesliga games with 33 goals and 90 Champions League missions with five goals. Hummels absolvierte 78 Länderspiele für Deutschland; His last game took place in November last year in a defeat against Austria. Despite his strong performance at the end of the season, he was not nominated for the home European Championship, which raises the question of how his international career could continue.