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Matthijs de Ligt completes $84.3 million Juventus move

Posted at 3:11 AM, Jul 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-18 05:11:15-04

Matthijs de Ligt, the 19-year-old Ajax captain who led the Dutch side to the Champions League semifinals, has completed his move to Juventus for a fee of $84.3 million.

A product of Ajax’s famed youth academy, De Ligt becomes the fourth most expensive signing of the summer transfer window so far.

According to a statement from Juventus, the transfer fee is payable over five years with potential additional costs of $11.2 million.

De Ligt became Ajax’s youngest captain four months before his 19th birthday, and last season helped the club to a league and cup double, as well as scoring against Juventus to reach the Champions League final four.

READ: Buffon rejoins Juventus after one season at PSG

READ: Antoine Griezmann signs for Barcelona in $135 million deal

He joins the Italian champion under newly-installed manager Maurizio Sarri, who has moved to Juventus after a season at Chelsea, and will play alongside experienced defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.

Having previously been linked with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Manchester United, de Ligt follows former Ajax teammate Frenkie De Jong — who signed for Barcelona earlier this year — as another of Ajax’s youth products sold to one of Europe’s top clubs.