Bologna closing in on final decision on free agent Darmian
Quick summary
Bologna are nearing a final decision on signing free agent Matteo Darmian, with the experienced full-back available without a transfer fee.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceReports in Italy claim that Bologna will formally announce their signing of Matteo Darmian by the end of the week, with the former Inter and Torino defender set to sign a one-year contract with an option to extend after spending the last week in training with the Rossoblu.
Bologna set to sign Darmian on free transfer Darmian has been available as a free agent after leaving Inter at the end of his contract on June 30. He won nine trophies during his time in San Siro, three apiece in Serie A, the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana, and also reached the Champions League final in both 2023 and 2025.
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 17: Matteo Darmian of FC Internazionale Milano poses for a photo with the Coppa Campioni d’Italia and Coppa Italia trophies following the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Hellas Verona FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Darmian had several offers over the course of the summer, and there had also been suggestions that a backroom role with Inter was also on offer for the 36-year-old, who ultimately decided to take his time to weigh up his next steps.
He began training with Bologna at the beginning of October following a serious injury to Rossoblu right-back Emil Holm while away on international duty with Sweden. Holm has had surgery and is expected to miss around four to six months of action.
Bologna staff have been assessing Darmian’s fitness and match sharpness over the course of the last week, and according to Wednesday’s reports from Gianluca Di Marzio , they will finalise the veteran’s contract on Thursday.
According to reports elsewhere, Darmian will sign an initial contract until the end of the 2026-27 season with an option to extend for an additional 12 months.
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What happened
Bologna are moving closer to a definitive decision on whether to bring in veteran full-back Matteo Darmian, who is currently a free agent. The Italian defender brings significant top-flight and international experience, having previously played in Serie A with Torino, Inter Milan, and Manchester United. A move would give Bologna additional depth and versatility on the flank as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.
Chance analysis
Bologna's pursuit of Darmian underlines a pragmatic approach to the summer market — adding a battle-tested Serie A operator on a free rather than splashing out on a fee. For a club balancing domestic ambition with a European campaign, Darmian offers reliability and positional flexibility at left-back or right-back, plus a winning mentality forged at Inter and United. If the deal goes through, it would be a low-risk, high-experience addition to Thiago Motta's evolving project.
A completed signing would add experienced defensive depth and tactical flexibility to Bologna's back line at no transfer cost.