Roma have signed Netherlands midfielder Kayleigh van Dooren from Serie A rivals AC Milan on a contract running until 2029.
The 27-year-old changes clubs after recording eight goals and four assists during her first season in Italian football. She had originally joined Milan from FC Twente in July 2025 on a contract until June 2027.
Transfer snapshot
- Player: Kayleigh van Dooren
- Age: 27
- Position: Midfielder
- From: AC Milan
- To: AS Roma
- Transfer: Permanent
- Contract: Until 2029
- Recent record: Eight goals and four assists for Milan
- International team: Netherlands
Eight goals during first season in Italy
Kayleigh Van Dooren quickly provided goals from midfield after arriving in Serie A. She scored eight times across all competitions for Milan, including seven league goals, and supplied four assists. Her performances included becoming the highest-scoring Dutch player for the club in a single Serie A season.
The move to Roma allows Van Dooren to remain in Italy while joining a team competing domestically and in the Women’s Champions League during the 2026/27 campaign.
Her contract until 2029 also represents a significant long-term commitment from the capital club following only one season in Serie A.
Success with Twente before Milan move
Born in Veldhoven on 31 July 1999, Van Dooren began playing with hometown club RKVVO before entering the CTO Eindhoven development programme in 2014.
She joined PSV in 2018 and made her Eredivisie debut during her first season. The midfielder spent three campaigns with the club before moving to Twente in 2021.
Her time in Enschede was interrupted by an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in November 2022. Van Dooren remained out for approximately 15 months before returning to competitive action in February 2024.
She subsequently re-established herself as an important part of the Twente midfield and produced 20 goals across all competitions during her final season at the club.
That campaign ended with Twente completing a domestic treble in 2024/25. They won the Eredivisie title, KNVB Cup and Dutch Super Cup before Kayleigh Van Dooren moved to Milan.
She was also a major contributor during Twente’s Women’s Champions League campaign, scoring nine goals across qualifying and the league phase.
Netherlands international adds to Roma midfield
Van Dooren began representing the Netherlands at youth level in 2014 and progressed through the country’s Under-15, Under-16, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-23 teams.
She received her first senior call-up in February 2022 and made her Netherlands debut against Finland during the Tournoi de France that month.
Kayleigh Van Dooren has remained on the edge of the national squad rather than establishing herself as a regular starter. Her productive first season in Italy and move to Roma provide another opportunity to strengthen her case for further international involvement.
Roma now gain a midfielder with experience in the Netherlands, Serie A and the Women’s Champions League, as well as a proven ability to contribute goals from central areas.
Source: AS Roma
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