The 22-year-old attracted attention during his time in Serie B and subsequently established himself in senior football in Italy. AS Roma had considered a move before Sporting completed the deal in June, but the Portuguese club moved more quickly to secure his signature.
Sporting announced that Doumbia had signed a contract running until 2031, with an €80 million release clause included in the agreement. Reports in Italy put the transfer fee at around €20 million plus add-ons.
His progress in Portugal has kept the interest alive. Doumbia has begun to make his mark at Sporting, and his first Champions League goal, scored against Lens, has added to the attention surrounding his development.
Roma are not alone in following the midfielder. According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Juventus have also been tracking him, while Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Brentford are monitoring his situation.
Doumbia's emergence has given clubs another reason to assess a player who has already moved quickly through the Italian game. His performances for Venezia helped bring him to the attention of leading sides, and the move to Sporting has provided a new test in a different league and European competition.
For Roma and Juventus, however, any attempt to bring him back to Italy would be complicated by Sporting's position. The Lisbon club only signed Doumbia a few months ago and have secured his services on a long-term contract.
The release clause gives Sporting significant leverage in any future negotiations. Unless a club is prepared to consider a fee close to that figure, the Portuguese side have little contractual pressure to entertain an offer.
Roma's interest therefore appears to be a case of continued monitoring rather than an imminent transfer. Doumbia's development at Sporting will determine how the pursuit evolves, with several clubs now watching to see whether he can sustain his early progress.