Socceroos captain completes bold transfer to an Italian giant

Socceroos No.1 goalkeeper Maty Ryan has signed a one-year deal with Italian club AS Roma. The 32-year-old Blacktown native spent the last two seasons with Dutch club AZ Alkmaar. Roma will be a massive step-up for Ryan, but he insists he is at the club to challenge for their starting goalkeeper position.

Aussie No. 1 reignites career 

It has been a tough few years for Socceroos star Maty Ryan.  
 
In 2021, after being forced out of Brighton by current next England manager betting odds leader Graham Potter, Ryan went on loan to Arsenal to be the Gunners’ third-string keeper.  
 
The former Central Coast Mariners man then signed with Spanish club Real Sociedad. He lasted one season with La Real before joining FC Copenhagen in Denmark. Ryan made just 9 league appearances combined during his 18-month spell with Real Sociedad and Copenhagen.  
 
Ryan has spent the last 1.5 seasons with AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie, where he was the club’s starting goalkeeper. The 32-year-old played over 50 matches for The Cheese Farmers.  
 
The player thanked AZ Alkmaar for helping him re-establish his career at the end of the season when he announced that he would be leaving the club.  
 
“I got to meet so many great people and create many great moments together that I’ll always cherish,” Ryan said, “Thank you fans for the support and making those moments as special as they are through your support for the team.” 

Ryan to Roma 

Maty Ryan could have stayed at Alkmaar for another season or more as their No. 1. However, it’s pretty clear that he feels he is ready for a step up to a top five league again.  
 
Ryan has signed a one-year deal with Serie A club AS Roma. The Italian giants fell short of their Champions League aspirations last season and finished 6th place in the Serie A after firing Jose Mourinho.  
 
The betting sites have Roma as strong contenders to qualify for the Champions League this season. Playing for them will be a significant step up for Ryan. That’s if he does play at all.  

Graham Arnold backs Ryan move 

While some have doubts about whether Ryan will play at Roma, Socceroos boss Graham Arnold is confident that Ryan will play at Roma.  
 
““He’s not going there to be a second keeper at all,” said Arnold, “They’ve got a young keeper at this moment in time, and they wanted a top experienced goalkeeper, so Maty’s going there. 
 
“He’s got a strong belief in himself, and he’s expecting to go there and play.”  
 
Arnold clarified that he would still be happy with Ryan even if he did not play every game.  
 
“A club like Roma, they’re going to play 60-odd games this (season) with (the Europa League), and obviously, the Serie A and (Italian) Cup competitions,” Arnold said.  
 
“Then in this (season), we (the Socceroos) have got 10 international games, so that’s 70 games. If he gets 30, we’ll be very happy.” 

Neither Ryan nor Roma have announced the free transfer move. However, Ryan was spotted in Rome on Monday. Roma should announce the move something later in the week or in the next.