Kessie Awaits Juventus: Near Agreement with One Hurdle

Ivory Coast midfielder Frank Kessié is close to transferring to Juventus, with the agreement between the parties reportedly nearly finalized, according to Italian newspaper Tuttosport on Saturday.

The midfielder is awaiting the Italian club to finalize some details regarding the transfer.

According to the source, Juventus and Kessié have reached an understanding regarding a contract that will last for three seasons, with an annual salary of around €4.5 million, along with a signing bonus. This arrangement represents a compromise between the player's initial demands and the offer available to him.

Despite Al Ahli's attempts to convince Franck Kessié to change his mind, the player, who has become a free agent after leaving his previous club, is holding firm on his choice of Juventus and coach Luciano Spalletti's project. He is prepared to wait until the club's management can create space for him in the midfield.

The newspaper reported that Kessié's status as a free agent allows him to be registered even after the closure of the Italian transfer market scheduled for September 1, with the possibility of being included later in Juventus' European squad.

Reports indicate that the 29-year-old player is in good shape, having participated in most minutes of the 2026 World Cup with the Ivory Coast national team.

Kessié has extensive experience in Serie A from his previous stints with Milan and Atalanta, having scored 26 goals and provided 15 assists in 119 matches during his time in Saudi Arabia, which has enhanced his attacking value. Juventus believes that his personality, strength, and experience align with Spalletti's requirements to build a more robust and balanced midfield.