How an Aston Villa fringe player became Europe's most prolific scorer

Just eight months ago, Donyell Malen was struggling to make a significant impact at Aston Villa.

Today, no player in Europe's top five leagues has scored more goals since his Roma debut on 18 January.

The Netherlands international has enjoyed a remarkable turnaround since joining Roma, transforming from a player who struggled to establish himself in the Premier League into one of the continent's most productive forwards.

Europe's hottest scorer

Since his Roma debut, Malen has scored 20 goals, more than Harry Kane (16), Lamine Yamal (15) and anyone else in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 during the same period.

He also leads the way for combined goals and assists with 22, ahead of Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes (20), Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal (19) and Bayern striker Kane (18).

No player across Europe's top five leagues has made a greater contribution in front of goal.

Why Roma's system suits him?

The contrast with his time at Villa could hardly be greater.

In 46 appearances for the Premier League club, the 27-year-old scored 10 goals and registered two assists. Since joining Roma, he has scored 21 goals and provided three assists in just 25 matches.

His scoring rate has improved from one goal every 149.8 minutes at Villa to one every 96.7 minutes in Rome.

On the surface, the figures suggest two very different versions of the same player. But Roma's success with Malen may owe as much to how he is being used as to any change in confidence or form.

The Dutchman arrived in Italy with a proven goalscoring pedigree and the data suggests Roma have found a role that maximises his attacking instincts.

While confidence and form may have played a part, a change in position appears to be a major factor behind the resurgence.

At Villa, Malen was often used across the frontline and spent only 52% of his league minutes as a central striker. At Roma, 99% of his Serie A minutes have come through the middle under manager Gian Piero Gasperini, making him the focal point of the attack and placing him where he can do the most damage.

The stats are backed up by the eye test. After Roma's 1-1 Champions League draw with Fenerbahce last Thursday, when Malen set up his side's goal, French football journalist Julien Laurens told Match of the Day the Dutchman had become central to Gasperini's plans.

"He has been incredible since January," said Laurens.

"He has been really efficient, super clinical. Malen is at the heart of everything they do with the ball."

Following a familiar Serie A trend

Malen is not the only former Premier League player to have flourished in Italy.

Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has thrived since swapping Old Trafford for Naples. Since joining Napoli in August 2024, only five players have scored more Serie A goals than the Scotland international's 22.

His impact has been such that Napoli supporters have even erected a street shrine in his honour.

Former Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund has also enjoyed an upturn in fortunes. His time in north west England divided opinion among supporters and pundits alike.

But since his Napoli debut, only Federico Dimarco, Lautaro Martinez and Malen have recorded more goal involvements than the Denmark international (19).

Their success highlights how a move to Serie A can provide players with the opportunity to thrive in a different environment and role.

For Malen, however, the transformation has been particularly dramatic.

Rather than changing Malen's game, Roma appear to have found a role that gets the best out of him. Used almost exclusively as a striker, the Dutchman has responded by producing the kind of form that first brought him to the attention of Europe's biggest clubs.

For a player whose Premier League spell failed to meet expectations, his resurgence in Italy's capital ranks among the most notable revivals in European football this year.