In European soccer, where multi-year contracts are customary and early terminations are uncommon and frequently expensive, the case of Edoardo Bove stands out as a notable exception. The 23-year-old Italian midfielder has mutually concluded his contract with AS Roma in order to pursue his professional career elsewhere, albeit no longer within his native country. Bove, who grew up in Roma’s youth system (one of the historic Serie A clubs, Italy’s top division), was under contract with the team until 2028, with an estimated net annual salary of approximately €1 million. However, he had been unable to play in Italy for more than a year due to medical and regulatory concerns. On December 1, 2024, during a Serie A match between Fiorentina and Inter, Bove, who was on 'loan' to the Viola at the moment, experienced a severe cardiac event while on the field. The match was immediately suspended and eventually rescheduled, while the player was sent to Careggi Hospital in Florence, where he remained for several weeks, including intensive care. He was released after around two weeks, but physicians opted to implant a subcutaneous defibrillator (S-ICD), a life-saving device that automatically intervenes in potentially fatal cardiac rhythms. Clinically, the surgery enabled him to live a regular life. From a sporting perspective, however, it radically changed his career. Sports medicine regulations in Italy restrict athletes with an implanted defibrillator from participating in professional contact sports. Serie A and the Italian Football Federation consider the risk of damage to the device—stemming from physical collisions, falls, or blows to the thorax, which are common in soccer— to be excessively high. Other countries, however, use less stringent criteria. In England, for example, playing with a subcutaneous defibrillator is legal as long as certain protective equipment is used and the player is medically in good health. Despite being unable to participate in matches in Italy, Bove remained officially under contract with Roma for approximately 13 months following his illness. The defibrillator, which was technically detachable, could have permitted him to adhere to Italian regulations; however, the player elected not to jeopardize his health and opted to keep it activated. Roma and Bove then agreed on the mutual termination of his contract. This is an unusual approach in European soccer, as early terminations typically involve financial compensation or extensive talks. In this situation, the organization and the player simply agreed to part ways, allowing Bove to pursue other chances abroad. According to multiple transfer market analysts, the termination was attributed to the interest of Watford, an English club competing in the Championship, the second division of English soccer. Watford reportedly presented Bove with an initial six-month agreement, including an option for a long-term extension extending until 2031. Financial details have not been publicly disclosed; however, the essential point is this: Bove, who arrived at the English club's training facility yesterday for a medical examination, will be able to play official matches again without giving up his defibrillator.