For the entire summer we’ve been sitting, waiting and hoping that Juventus pull the trigger on a move that will hopefully upgrade a defensive unit that has been desperately in need of some new blood.
To begin the week in which the new season begins, that defensive reinforcement arrived.
Juventus announced on Monday that they have signed Bologna center back Jhon Lucumí in a deal that is worth a total package of up to €22 million. Juve will pay an initial fee of €19.5 million to Bologna for Lucumí, who
has been long-set on joining the Bianconeri this summer. So much so that the 28-year-old Colombian who is coming off a strong showing at the World Cup pretty much rejected every other potential move in sight as he waited for Juventus and Bologna to hammer out a deal.
They finally did late last week, and now Lucumí has gotten the move he wanted all summer.
Lucumí has signed a four-year contract through 2030 and will reportedly earn around €2.5 million net per season.
Here are the official details of the deal from Juventus’ press office:
Turin, 17 August 2026 – Juventus Football Club S.p.A. announces that an agreement with Bologna FC 1909 for the definitive acquisition of the registration rights of the player Jhon Janer Lucumí Bonilla has been reached for a consideration of € 19.5 million, payable in three financial years, with the addition of ancillary costs up to € 0.6 million; furthermore, bonuses up to a maximum of € 2 million are envisaged upon the achievement of further performance objectives.
Juventus and the player have signed a contract of employment until the 30 June 2030.
Lucumí arrives at Juventus after four season with Bologna. He was at the center of the club’s rise to Champions League qualification under Thiago Motta and then the Coppa Italia final victory one year later. He was a consistent presence in the center of the Bologna defense, playing at least 2,200 minutes in Serie A in each of his seasons with Bologna.
He arrives at Juventus looking to be a player who improves a defense that has been far from one that is consistently able to win the team games. Lucumí, once he’s settled into the squad, is expected to be the player who slots in next to fellow South American center back Gleison Bremer at the heart of Juve’s defense.
