Bologna sign Darmian on a free to cover for injured Emil Holm

📰 Bologna have signed veteran defender Matteo Darmian on a free transfer to plug an injury gap. 📌 Key points ✍️ Bologna officially announced Darmian's arrival on 8 October. 📅 His contract runs until 30 June 2027. 🩹 The move follows right-back Emil Holm's surgery, ruling him out for four to six months. 🔵 Darmian left Inter in June after around six seasons. 🏟️ He could face his old club when Bologna host Inter on 17 October. 📝 What happened ✍️ Bologna said they had "acquired the rights to the sporting services of defender Matteo Darmian until 30 June 2027". Darmian signed after around a week of fitness tests at the club's training centre. 🩹 The trigger was an injury to right-back Emil Holm on Sweden duty. Holm has had surgery on a hamstring tendon in his right thigh and will be out for four to six months. 🔵 Born in 1989, Darmian played for Inter from October 2020 to June 2026 and reached two Champions League finals, in 2023 and 2025. He previously played for Torino and Manchester United, among others, and has more than 40 caps for Italy. 🧩 Raffaele Palladino gains a versatile defensive utility player. 📊 By the numbers • Age: 36 (born 1989) • Contract: until 30 June 2027 • Holm's expected absence: four to six months • Champions League finals with Inter: two 🔭 Why it matters Having lost a first-choice full-back early in the season, Bologna have turned to proven experience. They visit Lecce on 11 October before hosting Darmian's former club Inter on 17 October.