AS Roma have signed defender Evan Ndicka on a free transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt, the Italian Serie A club said on Wednesday.

“The club is delighted to announce the signing of Evan Ndicka, with the 23-year-old penning a deal until 2028,” read a statement on the club’s official website.

Ndicka, who will wear jersey number five said: “The way that the project was explained to me along with this club’s history and prestige made me want to come to Rome, which is a fantastic city that loves and lives for football. I can’t wait to take to the Olimpico pitch in front of my new supporters and make my contribution towards achieving our objectives.”

Roma’s General Manager, Tiago Pinto, said: “Despite his young age, Evan is already a mature player with a wealth of experience from one of the most prestigious leagues and he also played a key role in his previous club’s European success. He was a particularly sought-after player on the international stage, so we’re thrilled that he has chosen Roma.”

Born in Paris to a Cameroonian father and an Ivorian father, Ndicka came through the youth ranks at Auxerre before moving to Eintracht Frankfurt in 2018. During his time in Germany, Evan won the Europa League in 2022 and made a total of 134 Bundesliga appearances, during which he notched ten goals.

Having played for France at youth level, Evan recently decided to represent the Cote d’Ivoire at the senior international level. Ndicka made more than 134 Bundesliga appearances after joining Eintracht in 2018 from French side Auxerre.