Juventus are reportedly pushing to complete the signing of Genoa striker Jeff Ekhator in a deal worth approximately €15 million. Negotiations between the Serie A clubs are advancing rapidly as the Ligurian side face a pressing financial deadline.
The potential acquisition forms part of Juventus’s strategy to secure emerging Italian talent, with the Turin club identifying the 19-year-old as a long-term investment capable of eventually contributing to the first team squad.
Race to meet accounting deadline
Genoa must finalise the sale by 30 June to balance their books, lending significant urgency to discussions with the Turin giants. According to reports, the agreement could be concluded within the next 24 hours as the Grifone work to satisfy their fiscal obligations before the month-end cutoff.
This timeframe is critical for Genoa’s financial planning, as Italian clubs must demonstrate fiscal stability to comply with league regulations. Missing the deadline could restrict their operational flexibility for the upcoming transfer window, making the Ekhator sale a priority for the club’s hierarchy.
The proposed transfer fee is understood to be in the region of €15m, representing a substantial return for a player developed through the club’s own academy system. However, the deal’s structure may involve additional components rather than constituting a straight cash transaction.
Italy youth product with senior experience
Ekhator represents a significant homegrown talent loss for Genoa should the move proceed. The striker made 32 appearances across Serie A and the Coppa Italia during the recently concluded campaign, scoring four goals despite starting only ten of those matches. His limited starts underscore the potential Juventus see in the teenager, who has demonstrated clinical finishing despite irregular first-team opportunities.
The 19-year-old has progressed steadily through Genoa’s ranks since joining their academy, transitioning from youth levels to become a valued squad member in Italy’s top flight. His four goals this season came largely from substitute appearances, suggesting an efficiency that has caught the attention of scouts from larger clubs.
His performances have already attracted international recognition beyond club level. The teenager recently earned his first senior cap for Italy under caretaker manager Silvio Baldini, having previously established himself as a regular for the Azzurrini with two goals in six appearances at Under-21 level. This dual experience at youth and senior international level marks him as one of the peninsula’s promising attacking prospects.
Player exchange possibility
The negotiations could see Austrian left-back David Puczka move to Genoa as part of the arrangement. Puczka currently plays for Juventus Next Gen in Serie C and has represented Austria at Under-21 level, offering Genoa a potential replacement full-back should they require reinforcements in that position.
Should the transfer materialise, Ekhator would swap the Luigi Ferraris for the Allianz Stadium, joining Juventus’s attacking ranks as they plan for the future. The deal would provide Genoa with crucial financial relief while offering the teenager the opportunity to develop at one of Italy’s most prominent clubs, potentially following a pathway from the Next Gen squad to the senior side.