Juventus has signed Switzerland defensive midfielder Denis Zakaria from Borussia Moenchengladbach on a permanent deal that is set to last until 2026, the Italian-based club announced on Monday, even as the January transfer window ends.
In a statement, the Italian-based club announced that the deal was reached for consideration of €4.5 million payable in three financial years, in addition to the solidarity contribution provided for by FIFA regulations and additional costs for a total amount of €4.1 million.
The Italian-based football club and the player have signed a contract of employment until June 30, 2026. However, Zakaria has become the third signing of Juventus in the January transfer window. They signed Serie A’s joint-top scorer Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina the previous week, before signing Frosinone defender Federico Gatti earlier on Monday, who will stay with the Serie B club for the remainder of the season.
Denis Zakaria/Getty Images
However, Zakaria had earlier on today undergone medical ahead of the move to leave for Juventus before the transfer window closes. The 25-year old joined Gladbach from the Swiss side Young Boys in July 2017, made 146 appearances in all competitions, having scored 11 goals in Germany. The former Servette midfielder also established himself as a key member of the Switzerland national team in that time and has 40 caps for his country, including appearing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2020.
Denis is however said to have an important role in pushing the move through, though Gladbach’s vice president Rainer Bonhof, made it clear that he wanted to change clubs he had to make it clear whether he wanted to give Borussia a transfer fee for the move. The defensive midfielder joined Young Boys in June 2015 for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year contract. He made his Swiss Super League debut on 18 July 2015 against FC Zürich in a 1–1 away draw replacing Alexander Gerndt after 79 minutes.
The 25-year old played and scored a total of 11 goals, having made125 appearances for Young Boys. In June 2017, Zakaria signed a five-year contract with Borussia Mönchengladbach. He was transferred as a replacement for Mahmoud Dahoud who left the club for Borussia Dortmund. The transfer fee paid to Young Boys for Zakaria was reported as €10 million. On 31 January 2022, with six months remaining on his contract, Zakaria moved to Serie A club Juventus on a four-and-a-half-year contract, in a deal worth €4.5 million.
Denis Zakaria in a past match/Getty Images
The midfielder played for various Swiss youth national teams. He could have represented Switzerland, South Sudan or Congo at a senior level due to being born in Switzerland and having South Sudanese and Congolese parents. Zakaria made his debut for the senior Switzerland national team in a friendly 2–1 loss to Belgium on 28 May 2016.
He was part of the squad for the 2016 European Championships and was included in the 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In May 2019, Zakaria played in the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals, where his team finished fourth. He was named in the 26-man Swiss squad for the UEFA Euro 2020. On 2 July 2021, he scored his own goal in Switzerland’s quarter-final match against Spain, which they went on to lose on penalties.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login