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Reigning Serie A champions Juventus, confirmed the transfer of 19-year-old Ajax defender, Matthijs De Ligt in what could be the signing of the summer.
The Dutch centre-back has been the focal point of a bidding war between some of Europe’s elite clubs, including Manchester United, PSG and Barcelona, however the player has joined the Italian giants for a £67.5 million fee.
? LIGTS ? | Matthijs de Ligt officially signs for Juventus! ✍️⚪⚫
https://t.co/dWhtEdSULz #TURNDELIGTON #LiveAhead pic.twitter.com/1xrVIFqSBy
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) July 18, 2019
The Dutch international is currently one of the most coveted young talents in football and the current FIFA Golden Boy award winner. De Ligt joined the first team from the academy in 2016, playing in the side that met Manchester United in the Europa League final.
The player then became the team captain in 2018, the youngest in the history of the club as Ajax won the league and cup double, as the Dutch side went onto the Champions League semi-finals, dispatching Real Madrid and Juventus along the way as the defender scored against both clubs.
Juventus confirmed on their website that the fee will be paid over a five year period and includes additional variables of £9 million. De Ligt joins the club as their third most expensive signing ever and their most expensive defender in history, surpassing the £37.35 million fee of Lilian Thuram.
De Ligt will join Cristiano Ronaldo and co. in the lead-up to the teams first pre-season game against Tottenham Hotspur on the 21st of July in Singapore.
