Manuel Locatelli is officially a Juventus player!

Juventus have confirmed the arrival of Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli.

The Italian international completed his medical at Continassa on Wednesday afternoon and will join the club on an initial two-year loan deal with a €25m obligation to buy plus €12.5m in bonuses. The player signed a contract at Juventus until 2026.

Fabrizio Romano also confirmed that Locatelli, previously number 73 at Sassuolo, will don the number 27 shirt for the Bianconeri.

Confirming his arrival, Juventus wrote on their official website: “The Juve midfield is enriched by another young name, of undoubted talent: Manuel Locatelli, 23, born in Lecco on January 8, 1998, who arrives in Juventus from Sassuolo.”

The club rightly waxed lyrical over their new signing, describing him as “absolute quality in midfield” and boasting “class that few have”. They’re not wrong. The elegant Locatelli emerged as one of Europe’s most well-rounded midfielders during his time under Roberto De Zerbi at the Mapei Stadium, with his stock rising exponentially ahead of the summer’s European Championship, where he starred early on in Italy’s successful campaign.

Juventus then concluded: “In short, the numbers, despite his young age, tell of a boy with a crystalline talent and the personality of a veteran. A boy who has already made his mark. And that now he will continue to do so in black and white.

“Welcome, Manuel!”

The Italian midfielder rejected Arsenal, who’d had their €40m proposal accepted by Sassuolo, in favour of a switch to Turin and it’s clear that Locatelli is thrilled to be part of the Old Lady.

Speaking to Juventus TV (via JuveFC), he said: “A dream come true, the dream of a child that has given so much, that arrives at Juve with the desire to take to the field for the fans, who can’t wait to get onto the pitch at the stadium, and that’s just the start!”

Locatelli’s expected to travel with the squad for their season-opener against Udinese on Sunday, although his first competitive Juventus appearance will likely come off the bench.

Juventini could be treated to his full debut at the Allianz Stadium the following week when the Bianconeri take on Empoli in their home opener.