Lazio have officially completed the signing of Dutch centre-back Danilho Doekhi on a free transfer. The 28-year-old has penned a three-year contract keeping him at the Stadio Olimpico until June 2029 after undergoing medical examinations in Rome.
Doekhi joins the Serie A side following the expiration of his contract with Union Berlin on 30 June. He arrives without a transfer fee, becoming the second free agent to join the Biancocelesti this summer after Alfonso Pedraza.
Defensive reinforcements required
The acquisition addresses Lazio’s urgent need for central defensive depth following recent squad departures. The club confirmed the sale of Mario Gila to rivals Milan earlier in the window, removing a key figure from their defensive rotation.
Additionally, club captain Alessio Romagnoli has agreed terms with Al-Sadd, though that transfer has not yet been finalised weeks after the clubs reached an agreement. These concurrent exits left the squad with limited experienced options at centre-back, creating an urgent requirement for reinforcements before the new campaign.
Doekhi provides immediate cover for head coach Gennaro Gattuso. His arrival on a free transfer allows the club to allocate financial resources elsewhere in the squad whilst addressing a key positional requirement.
From Amsterdam to Rome via Berlin
The defender arrives with experience from three leagues. He began his professional career in the Netherlands, progressing through the renowned Ajax academy before establishing himself as a regular starter at Vitesse in the Eredivisie over several seasons.
In the summer of 2022, Doekhi moved to German football on a free transfer, joining Union Berlin. He spent two full seasons with the Bundesliga club, participating in both domestic league action and European competitions, before opting not to extend his stay beyond June this year.
Doekhi celebrated his 28th birthday earlier this month. He possesses established family ties to Italian football through his uncle, former AC Milan defender Winston Bogarde, who enjoyed a successful spell with the Rossoneri during the late 1990s and won domestic honours with the club.