Roma’s yellow-and-red family has gained another member during the international break, with 17-year-old forward Silver van Hetten joining the club’s women’s Primavera set-up.
The move has a personal connection for Donyell Malen, who remains at Trigoria while international football takes centre stage elsewhere. The Dutch attacker welcomed his sister-in-law to Roma with a message of support: “I am happy to announce that my sister is now part of AS Roma. I am proud of you, daje!”
Van Hetten is the sister of Malen’s wife and has known the Roma forward since childhood. Their close relationship now extends into club life, with both wearing the same colours in a season that could prove important in her development.
While Malen operates through the middle and across the attacking line, Van Hetten is an outside forward. She has entered Roma’s Primavera group this campaign and will look to build her path towards the senior side coached by Alessandro Spugna’s successor, Luca Piovani, where Manuela Giugliano and her teammates provide the standard to reach.
Her first competitive appearance came on the opening day of the youth championship. Van Hetten entered after the interval as Roma Primavera beat Fiorentina’s young side 2-1, giving the teenager an early taste of the work required at Trigoria.
For Roma, it is a small but meaningful addition to the academy structure: a young attacker beginning her route through the club, backed by a family link already familiar with the demands and expectations of the Giallorossi shirt.
