Official: Roma confirm Totti will play on for one final season

It’s official: Francesco Totti will pull on the Roma shirt for one final season.

On Tuesday the Giallorossi captain, who will turn 40 on 27 September, signed a contract that will keep him at the club for the 25th season of his career.

“I really wanted this contract, it represents the realisation of my dream,” Totti told asroma.com following the official signing. “I always wanted to end my career having only worn one shirt – the Roma one.

“After speaking with the president, I am even more convinced that, working together, we can achieve great things.”

Totti joined Roma in 1989 as a 12-year-old and, after progressing rapidly through the junior ranks, was handed his first-team debut as a 16-year-old on 28 March 1993 - coach Vujadin Boskov bringing him on in an away match against Brescia.

He scored his first goal for the club on 4 September 1994 against Foggia and quickly established himself as a first-team regular, becoming the youngest club captain in the history of Serie A when he inherited the armband from Brazilian defender Aldair in 1998.

Last season, the Roma No.10 found the net five times in just 15 appearances, meaning he now stands on 758 appearances and 304 goals for the Giallorossi – leading both categories in the club’s all-time records.

“It’s quite fitting that on the anniversary of the day AS Roma was founded, Francesco Totti has signed a new playing contract,” said AS Roma President Jim Pallotta.

“No one has played more games or scored more goals for this football club than Francesco Totti and we’re delighted that he will continue for one more season.

"He’s earnt this contract and now we want Francesco’s final season on the pitch to be the start of a new era of success for AS Roma.”

Totti’s longevity is almost unprecedented in the modern game. During his career he has won Serie A once, the Coppa Italia twice and the Supercoppa Italiana twice – while his many individual accolades include the 2006-07 European Golden Shoe, awarded to the continent’s top goalscorer.

Totti is also a World Cup winner, having lifted the trophy with Italy in 2006.

Click here to read the most in-depth interview Francesco Totti has ever given, via AS Roma’s official Medium account.