By Wale Mustapha
Italian Serie A Femminile club AS Roma have joined the race to sign Nigerian international Rinsola Babajide, who is currently a free agent following her departure from Spanish side Tenerife.
The 26-year-old forward ended her stint with Tenerife at the close of last season after a strong campaign that saw her score 10 goals and provide five assists in 26 league appearances.
According to Insider Post, AS Roma have dispatched scouts to Morocco to monitor Babajide’s performances at the ongoing 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where she has already made an impact with one goal and one assist in two appearances for the Super Falcons.
Babajide’s strong showing on the international stage has boosted her market value, with several European clubs reportedly tracking her progress during the tournament.
The London-born striker has spent much of her career in England, featuring for clubs such as Crystal Palace, Millwall Lionesses, Watford, Liverpool, and Brighton & Hove Albion before moving to Spain.
Her blend of pace, direct attacking play, and versatility in the forward line makes her a compelling option for AS Roma, who are looking to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.
No official offer has been made yet, but discussions are expected to intensify as WAFCON progresses.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
