De Ligt completes 75 million euro transfer to Juventus

By: The Associated Press Posted: 2:23 AM CDT Thursday, Jul. 18, 2019 Last Modified: 2:54 AM CDT Thursday, Jul. 18, 2019

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TURIN, Italy - Matthijs de Ligt became the most expensive defender in Serie A history after completing a 75 million euro ($85 million) transfer from Ajax on Thursday.

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TURIN, Italy - Matthijs de Ligt became the most expensive defender in Serie A history after completing a 75 million euro ($85 million) transfer from Ajax on Thursday.

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This article was published 18/07/2019 (2620 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TURIN, Italy – Matthijs de Ligt became the most expensive defender in Serie A history after completing a 75 million euro ($85 million) transfer from Ajax on Thursday.

Juventus announced the deal’s completion, saying it had signed the Netherlands international to a five-year contract.

The 19-year-old De Ligt was captain of the Ajax squad that reached the Champions League semifinals last season, having scored the winning goal against Juventus in the quarterfinals.

Newly hired Juventus soccer team defender Matthijs de Ligt shows the thumbs up sign upon his arrival at the Juventus Medical Center in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, July 17, 2019. Matthijis de Ligt is undergoing medical exams with Juventus ahead of an expected 70 million euros ($80 million) transfer from Ajax. (Alessandro Di Marco/ANSA Via AP)

The highly regarded centre back is set to join a veteran defence featuring Juventus stalwarts Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.

Juventus said in a statement that the deal was “reached for a consideration of 75 million euros, payable in five financial years, and additional costs of 10.5 million euros.”

While contract details were not revealed, De Ligt’s contract is reportedly worth 8 million euros per season, and could reach 12 million euros with bonuses.

De Ligt’s signing follows that of midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot by Juventus, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon also back after one season away at Paris Saint-Germain.

And as Cristiano Ronaldo enters his second season at Juventus, the Turin club is putting together a serious bid to win the elusive Champions League.

FILE - In this Friday, March 23, 2018 file photo, Matthijs de Ligt of the Netherlands runs back up the pitch during the international friendly soccer match between the Netherlands and England in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Defender Matthijs de Ligt is undergoing medical exams with Juventus ahead of an expected 70 million euros ($80 million) transfer from Ajax. Juventus shared photos and videos on social media of De Ligt's arrival in Turin late Tuesday then fans awaiting him outside the club's training facility when he showed up early Wednesday, July 17, 2019.(AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

Since Juventus’ last title in 1996, it has finished runner-up five times in the top European competition.

Strong both on the ground and in the air, De Ligt scored twice with headers in the Champions League last season — with only Ronaldo (four) managing more.

He becomes the fifth Dutch player for Juventus after Ouasim Bouy, Eljero Elia, Edwin van der Sar and Edgar Davids.

Juventus is an overwhelming favourite to win a record-extending ninth straight Serie A title.

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