Juventus sign Ekhator, face UEFA charge and agent backlash
Juve sign 19-year-old Italy striker Jeff Ekhator from Genoa for €16m plus up to €2m bonuses, contract to 2031. The Genoa academy product has 54 Serie A games. First major deal under CEO Giovanni Carnevali.
Michele Di Gregorio’s agent slams Juve’s directors, saying €130m was wasted on ‘terrible’ strikers and blame was shifted to the keeper. He says Di Gregorio has 3 years left, will attend camp, and seeks ‘respect’.
Juve abandon Emi Martinez pursuit as Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario agrees a £100,000-a-week move to Turin, with the Argentina goalkeeper to stay at Aston Villa.
Free agent Dusan Vlahovic returns to Turin after talks with Besiktas and stays silent on his future. Juventus want him to re-sign on reduced wages after his €12m-per-year deal expired.
After signing Jeff Ekhator, Juve are offered Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey as an option to Randal Kolo Muani. TMW suggest €35-40m, though his price could be higher after a strong World Cup with the Netherlands.
Juve agree a 3-year UEFA settlement for Football Earnings Rule breaches: €6m immediate charge plus up to €14m conditional. Squad cost limits apply, with possible escalation if targets to 2027-28 are missed.
Juve plan to raise the loan fee to €8m-€10m to land Randal Kolo Muani from PSG after a €33m loan-with-obligation bid was rejected, aiming to bridge PSG’s €40m valuation for the ex-Turin loanee.
