After a cardiac arrest and Italy’s strict medical rules, the 23-year-old midfielder is ready to relaunch his career in England
Edoardo Bove is preparing to turn the page. In the last few hours, the midfielder has obtained official clearance to terminate his contract with AS Roma, opening the door to a new chapter of his career — and his life — in England.
Bove is now close to signing with Watford, the Championship side owned by Gino Pozzo and run by sporting director Gianluca Nani. Watford are firmly in the promotion race and see Bove as a key reinforcement. The player has taken a few days to reflect, but all signs point toward an imminent agreement.
A forced goodbye to Italy
Bove’s decision to leave Rome — and Italian football — is not purely sporting. It is the direct consequence of Italy’s extremely rigid medical regulations.
On December 1, 2024, during Fiorentina–Inter, Bove suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on the pitch. He was later fitted with a subcutaneous defibrillator, a life-saving procedure that has, however, made competitive football in Serie A impossible under Italian health rules.
Despite being fully recovered physically, training daily with a personal coach and undergoing constant medical monitoring, Bove has been legally barred from returning to professional competition in Italy.
The England solution, Eriksen-style
The only viable path forward was abroad. England, where medical protocols differ, offers Bove the chance to do what he has always loved — play football again.
His situation mirrors that of Christian Eriksen, who resumed his career after a similar cardiac event by moving outside Italy. For Bove, Watford represents not just an opportunity, but a lifeline.
A new challenge, a new beginning
At 23, Bove still has his best years ahead of him. Watford believe his intensity, tactical intelligence and personality can make an immediate impact in the Championship, while also providing a powerful human story of resilience and determination.
Leaving Roma was not an easy choice, but it was a necessary one. Now, with England on the horizon and a contract close to being signed, Edoardo Bove is ready to start over — not just as a footballer, but as a symbol of courage and rebirth.
Tonight’s special farewell to his Roma and the Stadio Olimpico
Tonight, during Roma–Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, Edoardo Bove will be there — not on the pitch, but in the stands. A symbolic return, full of meaning, just days before he officially parts ways with AS Roma and continues his career abroad.
Bove is close to finalising the termination of his contract with Roma and is expected to move to England, where he will finally be allowed to resume competitive football after the cardiac arrest that changed his life. But before turning the page, Edoardo wanted one last embrace from the place that shaped him — and from the people who never stopped loving him.
A goodbye built on love, not separation
Bove’s relationship with Roma remains strong and genuine. The split is dictated by circumstances, not by choice or conflict. Italian medical regulations prevent him from playing in Serie A following the implantation of a subcutaneous defibrillator, making a move abroad the only possible solution to keep his dream alive.
Tonight, he returns to the Olimpico as a supporter, but also as a footballer determined to come back — somewhere else, in another league, with the same passion.
Bonds that remain: Dybala, teammates and the fans
In recent months, Bove has stayed in close contact with several Roma players. His bond with Paulo Dybala is particularly strong, built on friendship and mutual respect. Many former teammates have supported him quietly but constantly, sharing the hope of seeing him back on the pitch soon.
And the fans? They never stopped cheering for him. Roma supporters — and even Fiorentina fans — continue to see Bove as a symbol of resilience and identity.
From Curva Sud to the stands — but the field is waiting
Last May, after Roma–Fiorentina, Bove received a heartfelt ovation from the Curva Sud. Different times, different emotions. Tonight, he will be in the tribune, watching Roma–Sassuolo under the lights. But the feeling is the same: belonging.
The pitch is not behind him. It’s just waiting.
