Donyell Malen, a Dutch international who found it difficult to make a significant impact at English club Aston Villa, has emerged as one of the most effective goal-scorers in Europe after joining Italian side AS Roma. Since making his debut for Roma on January 18, Malen has scored an impressive 20 goals, surpassing top players like Harry Kane (16 goals) and Lamine Yamal (15 goals) in Europe’s top five leagues during the same period. He also leads in combined goals and assists with 22, ahead of stars such as Bruno Fernandes and Lamine Yamal. Malen’s performance at Villa was solid but not standout—he scored 10 goals and recorded two assists in 46 Premier League appearances. However, since joining Roma, he has been in exceptional form, scoring 21 goals and adding three assists in just 25 matches. This has dramatically improved his scoring rate, from one goal every 149.8 minutes at Villa to one every 96.7 minutes in Italy. His role has also shifted significantly; at Villa, he was often deployed in various attacking positions and only played as a central striker in 52% of his league minutes. At Roma, manager Gian Piero Gasperini has relied heavily on him, with 99% of his Serie A minutes coming through the middle, making him the central figure in Roma’s attack. French football journalist Julien Laurens has praised Malen’s transformation, calling him "incredible since January" and noting his central role in Roma’s play. His success has not gone unnoticed, with fans and analysts alike highlighting his impact on the team’s performance. Malen is not the only former Premier League player to have found new success in Italy. Scott McTominay, who joined Napoli from Manchester United in August 2024, has already scored 22 Serie A goals, placing him among the league’s top scorers. Napoli fans have even created a street shrine in his honor, reflecting his popularity. Similarly, Rasmus Hojlund, another former Manchester United player now at Napoli, has seen a notable improvement in his form. Only a few players, including Malen, have recorded more goal involvements than him this season.