Marseille's €19.5M Star Jonathan Rowe Signs for Bologna After Dressing Room Fight

Bologna strengthens squad with signing of Jonathan Rowe from Marseille

Bologna signs Jonathan Rowe from Marseille for €19.5 million after a dressing room altercation between Rowe and Adrien Rabiot. Read more about the transfer and the incident that led to his departure.

Jonathan Rowe has joined Bologna from Marseille after a reported changing room altercation with Adrien Rabiot led to both players being placed on the transfer list. The details surrounding the incident are scarce, but it's clear the situation made Rowe's departure from Marseille inevitable.

Transfer Details

• Bologna confirmed Rowe's signing on Sunday, with Italian media outlets reporting a transfer fee of €19.5 million agreed upon by both clubs.

• Rowe has committed to a four-year deal with Bologna, marking a new chapter in his career.

Rowe's move to Bologna comes after a tumultuous period at Marseille, where the changing room spat with Rabiot appears to have been the catalyst for his exit. With a fresh start at Bologna, Rowe will look to make an impact in the Serie A and establish himself as a key player for his new team.

Marseille officially announced Jonathan Rowe's departure from the club, wishing him "Good Luck" in his future endeavors. The 22-year-old striker joined Marseille on loan from Norwich City last year and made a lasting impact.

Rowe's departure from Marseille leaves a void in their lineup. His ability to play on either flank or in the middle made him a valuable asset. Marseille will likely look to strengthen their squad with new signings to compensate for his loss.

Jonathan Rowe's future at Marseille became uncertain after a physical altercation with teammate Adrien Rabiot led to both players being placed on the transfer list. The incident occurred following Marseille's 1-0 loss to Rennes in their Ligue 1 opener.

Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi described the brawl as a “bar fight,” stating, “It was a fight like I've never seen in all my years in football. For the first time in my career, I didn't know what to say or what to do.” The altercation reportedly took place in the dressing room, with De Zerbi, the sporting director, and other teammates present, including Darryl Bakola, who was receiving medical attention at the time.

Welcome to Bologna, Jonathan! 🤩#WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/GNSHh6Kvlu

— Bologna FC 1909 (@BolognaFC1909en) August 24, 2025

De Zerbi defended his decision to put both players on the transfer list, citing the severity of the incident and the need to maintain discipline within the team. Marseille's president, Pablo Longoria, also condemned the violence, while Rabiot's mother criticized the club's decision, calling it a betrayal.

“I've never seen anything like it. I come from the streets, I'm used to fights. But I've never seen anything like this. The club's bodyguards were trying to separate them. Normally they're supposed to protect us from others, not from ourselves.”

Marseille president Pablo Longoria described the altercation between Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe as “an event of extreme violence” in an interview with AFP. The incident occurred after Marseille's 1-0 loss to Rennes in their Ligue 1 opener, where Rabiot and Rowe were involved in a physical confrontation in the dressing room.

Despite the severity of the incident, Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi expressed hope that the relationship between Rabiot and the club could be “repaired.” De Zerbi described the brawl as a “bar fight,” stating, “It was a fight like I've never seen in all my years in football. For the first time in my career, I didn't know what to say or what to do.”

Marseille has since bounced back from the incident, securing a 5-2 win over promoted Paris FC on Saturday. This victory marks a positive start to their season, which will also feature Champions League football. Meanwhile, Italian Cup holders Bologna began their Serie A campaign with a 1-0 defeat at Roma on Saturday.