Defender Chris Smalling has signed a new two-year contract with Roma, the Italian club has announced. Smalling joined the club on a season-long loan from Manchester United in 2019 before signing a three-year deal to make the move permanent in 2020.
Smalling expressed his satisfaction by saying, Choosing to remain at Roma was an easy decision to make. I’m playing the best football of my career here and my family and I have felt so welcome in this wonderful club.
He has been a solid presence in Roma’s team, featuring in 37 games across all competitions this season, contributing with a goal and an assist. The 33-year-old, who was sidelined with a knee injury earlier in the campaign, returned to the squad towards the end of April and helped Roma secure a seventh-place finish in Serie A.
The club’s Vice-President, Ryan Friedkin, praised the defender for his contribution and said, We are delighted to have completed this deal with Chris. We are getting to know him more every day, and he is a fantastic man with a great attitude to football. He has become one of the leaders in the squad, and we look forward to seeing him continue to grow and help us achieve our goals.
Smalling has been a consistent performer, not just at Roma but also during his time at Manchester United, where he made over 300 appearances across all competitions in nearly a decade-long stay. His decision to commit to Roma indicates his trust in the club’s long-term plans and his desire to continue playing in Italy.
Roma will look to build on their seventh-place finish next season and will rely on Smalling’s experience and leadership at the back. The announcement of Smalling’s new contract is undoubtedly a significant boost for Roma’s fans and the team, who will hope for a more successful campaign next season.
