Juventus are negotiating to bring Italy international striker Jeff Ekhator to Turin from Genoa in a deal worth approximately €15m. Talks have accelerated significantly over the past 24 hours as Genoa race to complete a major sale before the June 30 financial deadline for Italian clubs.
Deadline pressure drives negotiations
Sky Sport Italia report that discussions between the clubs are in full swing and could conclude within the next day. Genoa must register a significant outgoing transfer to satisfy strict accounting requirements before the end of the Italian financial year, creating immediate pressure to secure an agreement and avoid potential regulatory complications related to their balance sheet.
The proposed transfer carries a valuation of around €15m, though final terms remain under discussion. Juventus may also include Austrian left-back David Puczka in the arrangement. The defender currently plays for Juventus Next Gen, the club’s reserve side competing in Italy’s third tier, and has previously represented Austria at Under-21 level. His potential inclusion would provide Genoa with defensive reinforcement without additional cash expenditure.
Rising Italy star
At 19 years old, Ekhator has already earned his first senior cap for Italy under caretaker manager Silvio Baldini. He continues to feature regularly for the national Under-21 team, the Azzurrini, where he has scored twice in six appearances, underlining his status as one of the country’s most promising attacking prospects.
The striker developed through Genoa’s youth academy and broke into the senior squad during the recent campaign. He found the net four times in 32 outings across Serie A and the Coppa Italia, though he started only ten of those matches. His ability to contribute goals despite limited starting opportunities has demonstrated his potential to develop into a regular first-team player at a higher level.
What happens next
The coming hours will prove decisive as both clubs finalise the structure of the agreement. For Genoa, the sale would deliver essential financial relief ahead of the strict June 30 accounting cutoff date, potentially preventing the need to offload additional assets later in the summer window.
For Juventus, securing Ekhator would represent a significant long-term investment in young attacking talent capable of competing at both club and international level. The pursuit reflects the Turin club’s continued strategy of acquiring promising young Italian players who can contribute to the first-team squad immediately while retaining significant future resale value.