Tottenham Hotspur have officially announced the acquisition of Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus on a permanent transfer, writes the FootballTalk.
Initially joining Spurs on an 18-month loan deal in January 2022, Kulusevski had struggled to establish himself during a brief stint at Juventus. The 23-year-old midfielder had previously joined Juve from Atalanta in 2020, where he made only three appearances. During a loan spell at Parma, he showcased his abilities in 39 games, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists across various competitions.
Despite his impressive loan spell, the Swedish international was sold to Juventus. He went on to make a total of 79 appearances for the club, scoring nine goals and registering 10 assists in all competitions.
Although Kulusevski’s potential was evident, Tottenham managed to secure his services. Upon joining Spurs, he quickly formed a lethal partnership with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, playing a key role in the club’s qualification for the Champions League at the end of the 2021/22 season. During the last season, he featured in 37 games and contributed to 10 goals as Tottenham finished eighth in the Premier League.
Tottenham had the option to make his loan move permanent, which they have now exercised. Reports suggest that they negotiated a favorable deal, paying only £26m to sign Kulusevski this summer.
The official Tottenham website has confirmed that the Swedish international has joined the club permanently, signing a five-year contract until 2028. Kulusevski represents Tottenham’s first major signing of the summer transfer window and the first under new manager Ange Postecoglou. It is expected that Postecoglou will make several changes to the squad inherited this summer.
Lucas Moura has already departed following the expiration of his contract, and forward Arnaut Danjuma has returned to Villarreal after the conclusion of his loan. Therefore, securing Kulusevski on a permanent basis was crucial for Tottenham to strengthen their attacking options. Postecoglou is also anticipated to bring in another forward during the summer, with Jadon Sancho and Joao Felix among the players linked to a potential move to North London.