AS Roma complete Stephan El Shaarawy signing

The Italian forward joins on a loan deal until 30 June 2016, for a fee of €1.4million. The agreement includes an option to make the deal permanent, for a fee of €13million, before the beginning of the 2016-17 season.

The 23-year-old Italian international signed his contract with the Giallorossi having successfully passed his medical in Rome.

El Shaarawy began to catch the eye while playing in the Genoa youth academy, making his first-team debut in December 2008, just one month after his 16th birthday.

After winning the Coppa Italia and Primavera Super Cup with Genoa, El Shaarawy moved on loan to Padova in Serie B. The forward enjoyed an excellent season with Padova, earning himself a move to AC Milan in the summer of 2011 and securing his status as one of the most promising youngsters in Italian football.

El Shaarawy scored his first Serie A goal in September 2011 against Udinese. He went on to score 21 times in 83 appearances for AC Milan, before joining Monaco on loan in the summer of 2015.

Having progressed up through the Italy youth ranks from U16 to U21 level, El Shaarawy made his senior international debut on 15 August 2012 away against England. His first goal for Italy came on 14 November 2012 against France. As things stand, El Shaarawy has made 17 appearances for the Azzurri, scoring two goals.

After sealing his move to Roma, El Shaarawy shared his initial reaction with Roma TV: “I’ve joined Roma to show what I can do - to myself, the coach and the Italian game as a whole. I hope to repay the faith the club is showing in me and therefore I want to give 100% when I play to try and achieve great things here.”