Roma have announced that Leon Bailey suffered a myotendinous injury to the right rectus femoris during his very first training session with the club on Wednesday, only hours after his loan move from Aston Villa was made official.
Leon Bailey has joined Roma on a season-long loan from Aston Villa ✍️
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) August 20, 2025
The deal includes an option to buy the winger 🔴🟡 pic.twitter.com/SnBOUaek7E
In a statement released this morning, the Giallorossi confirmed the issue and explained that further medical tests are required to establish the severity of the problem.
“Leon Bailey sustained a suspected myotendinous injury of the right rectus femoris at the end of Wednesday’s training session, August 20,” Roma said.
“The player will undergo additional diagnostic tests in the coming hours. He has already begun rehabilitation treatment at the Fulvio Bernardini training centre.”
Injury record continues
From an Aston Villa perspective, the news is not entirely surprising, given Bailey’s history of muscular injuries.
During his time at Villa, where he made 144 appearances, scoring 22 goals and providing 24 assists, Bailey constantly struggled with recurring muscular issues. In total, the Jamaican international missed 53 games over three seasons through injury for club and country.
Every time he showed flashes of his explosive pace and flair, injuries seemed to halt his momentum before he could truly settle into the side. Supporters often felt like they were waiting for the “real Bailey” to emerge and show consistency, but recurring muscle problems kept him in and out of the squad.
The loan fee of £2.5 million, with a potential total deal value of around £18 million if made permanent, offers Villa some more financial flexibility in this transfer window, but Bailey’s immediate setback in Italy underscores the risks of his injury record and Roma will be closely monitoring his fitness before any option to buy is triggered.
Bailey likely to miss Serie A opener
Although no official recovery timeline has been given, Italian outlets such as Calciomercato.com report that Bailey is expected to miss at least the first two league fixtures. Roma kick off their Serie A campaign against Bologna on August 23 before visiting Pisa on August 30.
The Jamaican winger’s setback comes as Roma continue reshaping their attacking options. Alongside Bailey, the club secured the signing of Evan Ferguson earlier this summer and remain in negotiations with Manchester United for Jadon Sancho.
