Jonathan Rowe Joins Bologna After Marseille Exit

Jonathan Rowe, the U21 England international, has officially joined Bologna following his departure from Marseille. This move comes after an altercation with Adrien Rabiot in the changing room, which resulted in both players being placed on the transfer list.

Bologna did not disclose specific details regarding the transfer. However, Italian media outlets indicate that the Serie A club and Marseille reached an agreement for a fee of 19.5 million euros for Rowe, who has committed to a four-year contract.

Marseille briefly announced Rowe’s transfer on their official website, extending their best wishes to the player.

Rowe shared a message on Instagram, stating, “It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions, and I sincerely appreciate the faith and support I received along the way.”

He added, “I prefer not to delve into specifics. Instead, I want to express my gratitude to the players, coaches, and staff who consistently encouraged me to fight for the badge.”

Rowe, aged 22, initially joined Marseille on loan from Norwich the previous year. During his first season in Ligue 1, he scored three goals in 28 appearances before the transfer was made permanent in the summer.

Following the altercation with Rabiot, which Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi described as a “bar fight,” the Under-21 England international was listed for sale.

The incident occurred after Marseille’s 1-0 defeat to Rennes in their Ligue 1 season opener, where they conceded a stoppage-time goal despite playing with a one-man advantage for an hour.

De Zerbi commented on the situation, saying, “In all my years in football, I have never witnessed such a fight. It was a first for me, and I was at a loss for words and actions.”

He further added, “I’ve never seen anything like this before. I come from the streets and am familiar with fights, but this was unprecedented. The club’s security personnel had to intervene to separate them, even though their usual role is to protect us from external threats, not from each other.”

Club president Pablo Longoria described the incident as “extremely violent” in a discussion, while De Zerbi expressed hope on Saturday that the relationship between Marseille and Rabiot could be “repaired”.

Marseille secured a 5-2 victory against Paris FC, marking the beginning of a season that will also include Champions League participation.

Bologna, the Italian Cup holders, commenced their Serie A campaign with a 1-0 loss to Roma on Saturday as well.