A free transfer that always floats between the uncertainty of time passing and the certainty of experience and quality to sell. Only time will tell the definitive answer on who will be the real Mats Hummels that Daniele De Rossi’s Roma will find. But who is the German central defender who has just landed in the capital? Hummels has spent most of his career with Borussia Dortmund, where he played in two distinct periods: from 2008 to 2016 and from 2019 onwards. With BVB, he won two German championships, two German cups, and three German Supercups. He has collected over 500 appearances, scoring 38 goals and providing 23 assists. Between 2016 and 2019, he played for Bayern Munich, winning further titles, including three championships and a Champions League.
A Life in Germany
In fact, his entire career in Germany where his numbers are those of an extraordinary leader. A look: in the Bundesliga he has exceeded 430 appearances, scoring 32 goals and providing 20 assists. In the last season with Borussia Dortmund, he played 25 games in the Bundesliga, scoring 3 goals. He was often deployed as a starter, demonstrating his importance in the club’s defensive system. A dream list: he was world champion with Germany in 2014. He scored a decisive goal in a Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, taking Borussia Dortmund to the final.
An absolute leader
Hummels is universally considered one of the best defenders of our time, known for his calmness under pressure, his reading of the game, and his ability to intercept and recover balls. Although he is not the fastest, he makes up for it with positioning, physical strength, and ability in aerial duels. Roma signs him to lead the new defense. But which Hummels will they find?