Atalanta have reached an agreement to sign Bologna winger Jonathan Rowe in a deal worth up to €40m, with the Englishman moving initially on loan before a mandatory purchase at the end of the season.
The Serie A clubs have agreed a €5m loan fee, followed by an obligation for Atalanta to buy Rowe for a further €30m. A potential €5m in performance-related bonuses could take the overall value of the transfer to €40m.
The agreement was confirmed by multiple sources, including Sky Sport Italia, Fabrizio Romano and Sportitalia, after Atalanta had pursued Rowe for several weeks.
The transfer is set to be completed on the same day the two clubs meet in Serie A. Rowe was left out of Bologna’s squad for that match because he was pushing to secure a move to Atalanta.
The deal will also see Bologna move quickly to replace Rowe, with former Juventus winger Samuel Mbangula close to joining from Werder Bremen. Discussions are understood to have reached the final details, with the Belgian expected to arrive on loan and Bologna holding an option to buy him at the end of the season.
The 22-year-old Mbangula joined Werder Bremen last summer in a transfer worth €10m plus add-ons.
Sportitalia also reports that Bologna and Atalanta have agreed a separate deal involving Federico Cassa, who will move to Bologna on loan.
Rowe’s departure brings an end to Atalanta’s lengthy pursuit of the Bologna winger, with the clubs now agreeing terms shortly before their league fixture. The structure of the transfer allows Atalanta to take Rowe immediately, while the obligation to buy provides a clear route to a permanent move once the season concludes.
Bologna, meanwhile, have arranged a replacement in Mbangula, who has previously been part of the Juventus setup and spent the past year at Werder Bremen. His proposed loan move includes the possibility of a permanent transfer, although the financial terms beyond the loan have not been disclosed.
The Rowe agreement is made up of a fixed €35m commitment, including the loan fee and obligatory transfer, with a further €5m available through bonuses. The total package would therefore reach €40m if all the performance-related conditions are met.
