Zeki Çelik has completed a dramatic move to Juventus after walking away from an agreed contract renewal with Roma, in one of the summer’s biggest transfer twists.
According to Corriere dello Sport the Giallorossi believed the deal was done.
Roma had agreed a new three-year contract with the Turkish full-back worth around €3 million net per season, and the club were simply waiting for the final signatures. Çelik was even expected to return to Trigoria to begin preseason after Roma arranged his flight back to the capital following the World Cup.
Instead, Juventus made a late move that completely changed the outcome.
The Bianconeri, led by sporting director Frederic Massara, moved quickly behind the scenes to convince the defender to switch sides. Çelik travelled to Turin, completed his medical at J Medical, and signed a three-year contract with Juventus bringing an abrupt end to his negotiations with Roma.
The decision came just 16 days after his previous contract with Roma had expired. Everything pointed toward the Turkish international remaining in the capital making Juventus’ late intervention all the more surprising.
The unexpected collapse of the renewal is a significant setback for Tony D’Amico, who believed Roma had secured one of their priority contract extensions before Juventus stepped in at the final moment.
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