OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: Juventus sign Dejan Kulusevski, loan him back to Parma

And on the second day of 2020, we got the first January signing of Juventus’ winter transfer window.

It just so happens we’re going to have to wait for him to actually wear a Juventus jersey.

Juventus has officially announced the signing of 19-year-old Swedish playmaker Dejan Kulusevski from Atalanta for a cool €35 million plus another €9 million in add-ons after he completed his medical exam earlier in the day on Thursday. But, as we’ve come to know ever since news first broke that Juventus and Atalanta agreed to the framework of the deal, Kulusevski will finish out the season on the same team that he has spent the first half of the 2019-20 campaign — with Parma on loan.

Kulusevski has signed a contract with Juventus until 2024, one where he will earn a reported €2.5 million per season.

From Juventus’ official website:

Turin, 2 January 2020 - Juventus Football Club S.p.A. announces that the agreement with Atalanta B.C. S.p.A. for the definitive acquisition of the registration rights of the player Dejan Kulusevski has been finalized for a consideration of € 35 million payable in five financial years. The purchase value may increase of maximum € 9 million on achieving given conditions in the course of the durations of the contract.

Juventus and the player have signed a contract of employment until 30 June 2024. At the same time,

Juventus has reached an agreement with Parma Calcio 1913 S.r.l. for the free loan until 30 June 2020 of the registration rights of the same player.

Kulusevski has been one of the best young players in Serie A this season, making the most of his loan spell with Parma. His four goals are second on the team, while he’s got a team-best seven assists, which rank second in all of Serie A.

It’s those kinds of numbers at such a young age — along with him being incredibly talented to begin with — that attracted the interest of some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Juventus beat out arch-rival Inter for Kulusevski’s signing, along with reported interest in the teenager coming from the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Kulusevski bucks a January trend for Juventus, which has historically been rather quiet when it comes to making moves in January. The one thing that Juve has done during the Beppe Marotta era and now under the direction of Fabio Paratici is make moves in January that have more of an impact for the future rather than trying to sign a player that will help the club in the present day. It’s been done with Atalanta before, with plenty of talented youngsters being signed and then loaned back to their club at the time for more development.

The hope, obviously, is that Kulusevski works out better than some of those previous deals.

Just in case you want to start following Kulusevski a little bit closer now that Juventus has splashed €35 million on him, Parma’s trip to Turin is scheduled for Jan. 19.

Below are Kulusevski’s thoughts on his big move to Juventus, which is quite the way to ring in the new year, I gotta say.