Denis Zakaria to join Chelsea: The details
FT Desk
- 1 Sept 2022 19:45 BST
- 3 min read
Denis Zakaria is set to join Chelsea on a one-year loan deal, according to multiple sources in Italy and England.
Zakaria has agreed to move to Stamford Bridge on loan for the 2022-23 season, with Chelsea possessing the option to make the move permanent for €35 million (£30m).
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Chelsea are set to pay the entirety of Zakaria’s salary.
The Blues were keen to bring in another central midfielder before the transfer window closed due to a glut of injuries in the middle of the park.
They have now got their man in the form of the Switzerland international.
Zakaria is an athletic and combative midfielder with good stamina and workrate, and should be suited to the end-to-end nature of the Premier League.
Zakaria, 25, only joined Juventus from Borussia Monchengladbach in January for a cut-price fee of €4.5m as his contract in Germany was set to expire this summer.
How good is Zakaria?
However, Zakaria has struggled for form and fitness in his eight months in Turin and has made only 15 appearances, scoring one goal.
He has slipped down the pecking order in Juventus’ much-maligned midfield, and he was publicly criticised by coach Max Allegri this season for “lacking quality”.
He is the second midfielder Juventus have let go on loan on Thursday, with Arthur Melo moving to Liverpool.
Juventus have had a big turnover in the centre of midfield this summer, also trying to sell AAdrien Rabiot to Man Utd a fortnight ago.
Juventus have brought in a central midfielder to replace Zakaria and Arthur in the form of Leandro Paredes of PSG, who completed his move to Turin on Wednesday.
Chelsea have set a world record this summer for spending in a transfer window after surpassing the €300m mark. They are expected to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona before the night is over, too.
