Benedikt Howedes undergoing medical ahead of Juventus move

We’ve seen some of Juventus’ transfers this season — whether completed or not — be prolonged for weeks on end. They’ve been must-covers for the Italian press, with updates — both good and bad — coming fast and furious over the course of the weeks that they’ve occupied our minds.

Benedikt Howedes’ move to Juventus has been the complete opposite of that.

There has been little drama for the 29-year-old German defender who has spent the past decade wearing a Schalke jersey. On Wednesday morning, Howedes arrived at J Medical in Turin to undergo routine physical exams ahead of his move to Juventus that was reportedly finished up and agreed upon earlier in the week.

Customary thumbs up before the medical gets going?

He must be a smart guy. I like this move already.

(I’m sure Sami Khedira, Howedes’ countryman and teammate on the international level, would be saying the same thing. And he’s probably giving a thumbs up as he takes part in international duty, too.)

Howedes will be reportedly arriving on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy worth between €10 million and €13.5 million depending on what Italian media outlet that you’ve been reading over the last day or two.

Either way, Juve have gotten themselves a quality defender for a solid price and on a very team-friendly kind of deal. I don’t know about you guys, but I definitely like when Juventus does these kinds of things.

Once he’s done being strapped up to wires, changes back into dress shirt and jeans and officially signs his contract, then we’ll get to see how Max Allegri plans to use him. (Or maybe after the damn international break is over. You never know.)