Becoming a top 10 hit should be goal for Juve’s leading light

Salaries are pretty high at Juventus, but their rising star is currently underpaid compared to his team-mates.
Juve's emerging superstar Kenan Yildiz has yet to put pen on paper for an improved contract
Juve's emerging superstar Kenan Yildiz has yet to put pen on paper for an improved contract | Image Photo Agency/GettyImages

Kenan Yildiz, who last signed a contract with the Turin titans when Thiago Motta was manager in August 2024, enjoyed his breakthrough season under both Motta and Igor Tudor.

His dynamic displays earned him a place among the 10 under 21 players across Europe to be nominated for the Kopa Trophy Ballon d’Or award, finishing a creditable fifth this week.

There’s been months of speculation swirling around that he will put pen to paper to commit his future to Juventus, and receive a vast improvement on his annual salary of €0.5 million (US0.6m).

He can be expected to make his wages at least 10-fold when it comes to agreeing a new deal with the Bianconeri, although there is plenty of interest from a clutch of La Liga and Premier League clubs.

The 20-year-old offered himself to Barcelona during the summer, which is littered with exciting stars and emerging talents. The Catalan club are closely monitoring his situation, ready to swoop.

Attraction of Premier League earnings

However, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are among the English top-tier teams prepared to splash the cash to secure Yildiz’s signature with the lure of a Premier League salary packet.

According to Capology, who have recently released their estimated salaries for Serie A clubs, Yildiz lies a lowly 11th. Although some of the figures quoted are laughable, as they are way off the mark.

The website claims that Juventus have a staggering three players among the top 10 highest-paid players in Serie A.

There’s been months of speculation swirling around that Yildiz will put pen to paper to commit his future to Juventus, and receive a vast improvement on his annual salary of €0.5 million (US0.6m). 

He can be expected to make his wages at least 10-fold when it comes to agreeing a new deal with the Bianconeri, although there is plenty of interest from a clutch of La Liga and Premier League clubs that could prevent him from putting pen to paper in Turin.

The 20-year-old offered himself to Barcelona during the summer, which is littered with exciting stars and emerging talents. The Catalan club are closely monitoring his situation, ready to swoop.

Yildiz is lowly paid at Juventus

However, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are among the English top-tier teams prepared to splash the cash to secure Yildiz’s signature with the lure of a Premier League salary packet.

According to Capology, who have recently released their estimated salaries for Serie A clubs, Yildiz lies a lowly 11th. Although some of the figures quoted are laughable, as they are way off the mark.

Hot-shot striker Dusan Vlahovic, who has been a supersub this term but a flop as a starter as he is man-marked out of matches, tops the Serie A earners.

Juve’s summer acquisition Jonathan David, the Canada goal poacher, is named fifth with Bianconeri defender Gleison Bremer listed at number nine.

Highly-paid Openda and Zhegrova

It makes interesting reading about Capology’s guess-timated Juventus salaries, with deadline day transfers Lois Openda and Edon Zhegrova named as top 10 earners.

Unorthodox striker Openda, on loan from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig, is on the radar of Bayern Munich. The German giants also have Vlahovic on their sights, and are keeping an eye out for the pair playing alongside each other.

Yet Juve head coach Tudor is a stickler for keeping to his tactical approach of only one target man. Against Hella Verona he unleashed David and Openda together, but they failed to make much impact.

Last season’s earners at Juventus were led by Vlahovic. Bremer, Teun Koopmeiners and Manuel Locatelli were the club’s three highest-paid players after Vlahovic.

Top 10 estimated Juve earners

1. Dusan Vlahovic

2. Jonathan David

3. Gleison Bremer

4. Lois Openda

5. Francisco Conceicao

6. Manuel Locatelli

7. Teun Koopmeiners

8. Federico Gatti

9. Edon Zhegrova

10. Andrea Cambiaso

Figures according to Capology