What Happened to Associazione Sportiva Roma?
AS Roma, under the ownership of The Friedkin Group since 2020, has experienced a period of significant managerial changes, financial restructuring, and a renewed push for on-field success. After several seasons of fluctuating performance, the club secured UEFA Champions League qualification in 2026 under coach Gian Piero Gasperini, while also progressing with plans for a new stadium in Pietralata.
Quick Answer
AS Roma, owned by The Friedkin Group, has recently achieved a significant milestone by qualifying for the UEFA Champions League in the 2026-27 season, finishing third in Serie A under coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The club is actively pursuing the construction of a new stadium in Pietralata, with administrative approvals in place and construction anticipated to begin by March 2027. Financially, Roma has been working to reduce losses and comply with FFP regulations, facing fines in 2026 despite improving financial results.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
The Friedkin Group Acquires AS Roma
Texas-based billionaire Dan Friedkin's group completes the acquisition of AS Roma for an enterprise value of €591 million, taking over from James Pallotta.
José Mourinho Sacked, Daniele De Rossi Appointed
Head coach José Mourinho is terminated after two and a half years; club legend Daniele De Rossi is appointed as his replacement until the end of the season.
De Rossi Confirmed for 'Foreseeable Future'
Owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin announce their intention to retain Daniele De Rossi as manager beyond the initial contract.
Ivan Jurić Appointed Head Coach
Daniele De Rossi is replaced by Ivan Jurić as head coach.
Ivan Jurić Sacked, Claudio Ranieri Appointed
Ivan Jurić is sacked after eight league games, and Claudio Ranieri is appointed as head coach until the end of the season.
Gian Piero Gasperini Appointed Head Coach
Long-time Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini is announced as AS Roma's new head coach, taking over from Claudio Ranieri.
Friedkin Group Launches Pursuit Sports
The Friedkin Group launches Pursuit Sports, a multi-club management vehicle to oversee its football properties, including AS Roma and Everton Football Club.
New Stadium Feasibility Study Submitted
AS Roma submits the Technical and Economic Feasibility Study for its new stadium project in Pietralata to the Rome City Council.
Pietralata Stadium Project Approved by City Council
The Rome City Council approves the Technical and Economic Feasibility Project (PFTE) for AS Roma's new 60,605-seat stadium in Pietralata.
Secures UEFA Champions League Qualification
AS Roma finishes 3rd in Serie A after a 2-0 win against Hellas Verona, securing qualification for the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League, their first since 2018-19.
Fined by UEFA for FFP Breaches
UEFA imposes a €2 million fine for slightly exceeding the intermediate financial target for 2025 and an additional €4 million for a squad cost ratio above 70%.
Donyell Malen's Permanent Transfer
Donyell Malen's loan move from Aston Villa is made permanent with a four-year contract until June 2030, following his impactful performance in the 2025-26 season.
Stadium Bureaucracy Gathers Pace
Administrative procedures for the Pietralata stadium project are set to be significantly shortened, with formal approval expected in the coming months and first works potentially starting in April 2027.
Top of Serie A Table
Roma defeats Atalanta 2-1, placing them joint-top of the Serie A table with Inter after three consecutive wins in the 2026-27 season.
Champions League Debut vs. Fenerbahçe
AS Roma is scheduled to play Fenerbahçe in their first UEFA Champions League match of the 2026-27 season.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Since the acquisition by The Friedkin Group in August 2020 for an enterprise value of €591 million, AS Roma has embarked on a journey marked by ambitious goals and considerable challenges. The American ownership, led by Dan Friedkin, has consolidated its stake to approximately 95.97% and has shown a long-term commitment to the club, including the establishment of Pursuit Sports in July 2025 for multi-club management, which also includes Everton Football Club.
The period from 2024 to 2026 saw significant managerial turnover. José Mourinho, who led Roma to the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League title in 2022 and the Europa League final in 2023, was sacked in January 2024 following a dip in form. Club legend Daniele De Rossi took over, initially on an interim basis, and was confirmed for the foreseeable future in April 2024. However, his tenure was short-lived, as he was replaced by Ivan Jurić in September 2024, who himself was sacked in November 2024 and succeeded by Claudio Ranieri. The most impactful change came on June 6, 2025, with the appointment of Gian Piero Gasperini, renowned for his work at Atalanta. Ranieri transitioned to a senior advisor role but departed in April 2026.
Under Gasperini's guidance, Roma's on-field performance saw a notable improvement. After finishing 6th in Serie A in the 2023-24 season and 5th in 2024-25 (qualifying for the Europa League), the 2025-26 season proved to be a turning point. Roma secured a 3rd-place finish in Serie A, marking their first UEFA Champions League qualification since the 2018-19 season and the first under the Friedkin administration. The 2026-27 season has started strongly, with Roma sitting at the top of the Serie A table alongside Inter after winning their first three matches against Fiorentina, Lecce, and Atalanta.
Financially, Roma has been navigating the complexities of UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. The club reported a consolidated loss of €81.3 million for the financial year ending June 30, 2024, which improved to a loss of €53.9 million for the year ending June 30, 2025. Despite these efforts, UEFA imposed a €2 million fine in June 2026 for slightly exceeding the intermediate financial target for 2025, along with an additional €4 million fine for a squad cost ratio above 70% for the calendar year 2025. The club aimed to raise €90 million in capital gain for the 2025-26 season to meet FFP targets. As of May 2026, Forbes valued AS Roma at $940 million (€808 million), with a revenue of $242 million (€222 million) and an operating income of -$31 million (-€28 million) for the 2024-25 season.
A major long-term project for the club is the construction of a new stadium in Pietralata. After the previous Tor di Valle project was abandoned in 2021, a new site was identified. The Technical and Economic Feasibility Project (PFTE) was submitted in December 2025 and approved by the Rome City Council in February 2026. The total investment is projected to be over €1 billion, with construction expected to begin by March 2027 and a target completion date around 2030-2031. The new 60,605-seat stadium is envisioned as a year-round complex, significantly boosting the club's revenue potential and urban regeneration in Rome.
Key player movements in recent seasons include the permanent signing of Donyell Malen in summer 2026 after a successful loan spell, and the permanent transfer of Daniele Ghilardi. Paulo Dybala extended his contract until June 2027, while Zeki Çelik departed for Juventus. As of September 2026, Roma is competing in the UEFA Champions League, with their first match against Fenerbahçe on September 10, 2026. The club continues to focus on strengthening its squad and financial stability under Gasperini's leadership, aiming to build on its recent Champions League qualification.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Associazione Sportiva Roma made different choices?