Franck Kessie claims he would be a great signing for Juventus as free agent talks heat up

Franck Kessie claims he would be a great signing for Juventus as free agent talks heat up The Ivorian midfielder turned down a reported €12M-per-year renewal at Al-Ahli to chase a return to Serie A, with salary negotiations now the key sticking point Share Add us on Google by Editorial Team Jun. 27, 2026 Franck Kessie is not exactly being subtle about where he wants to play next season. The Ivorian midfielder, set to become a free agent on June 30, has publicly declared that he would be a “great signing” for Juventus, effectively pitching himself to one of Serie A’s biggest clubs while his agents work the phones in the background.

He reportedly turned down a contract renewal from Al-Ahli worth €12 million per year. Walking away from that kind of money to pursue a return to European football is either deeply principled or deeply calculated. Probably both.

The negotiation gap Kessie’s representatives have already been in contact with Juventus, and a meeting with club CEO Giovanni Carnevali is scheduled to take place in Milan this week. The two sides are negotiating around a potential two-year deal, but there’s a meaningful gap between what each party considers reasonable compensation. Juventus is reportedly willing to offer up to €5 million net per season.

Kessie’s camp wants at least €6 million net. That €1 million annual difference might not sound like much relative to the numbers being thrown around, but it represents a 20% gap between floor and ceiling. Advertisement For context, Kessie left behind a salary more than double what Juventus is currently offering.

The fact that he’s willing to take that kind of pay cut tells you something about his priorities. What Kessie brings to the table Kessie’s time at AC Milan, where he became a key figure in their 2021-22 Serie A title-winning squad, established him as one of the more complete central midfielders in Italian football. He brings physical presence, goal-scoring ability from deep positions, and the kind of leadership that managers tend to value in squad-building phases.

His departure from Milan to Barcelona on a free transfer in 2022 didn’t go according to plan, and his subsequent move to the Saudi Pro League in 2023 followed. At Al-Ahli, he helped the team secure two AFC Champions League titles. But Kessie is now looking to return to top-level European football, and Juventus, under manager Luciano Spalletti, appears to be at least open to the idea.

Free agent acquisitions carry no transfer fee, which means the financial risk is limited to wages. For a club like Juventus, which is in a rebuilding phase, adding an experienced Serie A veteran on a free transfer is the kind of low-risk, high-upside move that looks smart on a spreadsheet. Why Juventus might bite The fact that Carnevali is personally involved in the discussions suggests Juventus is taking this seriously.

The scheduled sit-down in Milan this week could be the moment where the deal either gains real momentum or stalls over the salary question. Kessie knows Serie A. He’s played previously at both Atalanta and AC Milan.

That institutional knowledge of Italian football removes the adjustment period that often comes with foreign signings. For Spalletti, who needs players capable of contributing immediately, that familiarity is worth something. If Juventus moves from €5 million toward €6 million, it means the club views Kessie as a genuine squad upgrade rather than a depth option.

If Kessie drops his demands, it means the desire to return to top-level European football outweighs the financial considerations. Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

SOCCER Franck Kessie claims he would be a great signing for Juventus as free agent talks heat up The Ivorian midfielder turned down a reported €12M-per-year renewal at Al-Ahli to chase a return to Serie A, with salary negotiations now the key sticking point by Editorial Team Jun. 27, 2026 Share Add us on Google Franck Kessie is not exactly being subtle about where he wants to play next season. The Ivorian midfielder, set to become a free agent on June 30, has publicly declared that he would be a “great signing” for Juventus, effectively pitching himself to one of Serie A’s biggest clubs while his agents work the phones in the background.

He reportedly turned down a contract renewal from Al-Ahli worth €12 million per year. Walking away from that kind of money to pursue a return to European football is either deeply principled or deeply calculated. Probably both.

The negotiation gap Kessie’s representatives have already been in contact with Juventus, and a meeting with club CEO Giovanni Carnevali is scheduled to take place in Milan this week. The two sides are negotiating around a potential two-year deal, but there’s a meaningful gap between what each party considers reasonable compensation. Juventus is reportedly willing to offer up to €5 million net per season