OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: Juventus sign Santos starlet Kaio Jorge

It’s taken quite a few weeks for Juventus to announce its first signing of the summer. But on the same Tuesday that saw Juve reportedly close the deal for its No. 1 transfer target, the Bianconeri have also made their first signing of the summer official.

Juventus has announced the signing of Santos starlet Kaio Jorge, who first arrived in Turin on Aug. 4 to undergo his medical exams and has been spending the last week and a half in mandatory isolation away from the team due to COVID-19 restrictions. The 19-year-old Brazilian has put pen to paper on a contract through 2026, and while Juventus didn’t include the details of the deal with Santos it is believed that he arrives for €3 million with another €1 million in potential add ons.

Kaio Jorge will wear the No. 21 jersey this season.

From Juventus’ official announcement of the signing:

A new talent joins the Bianconeri squad. From Brazil and in his career, he has constantly forged ahead: Kaio Jorge is a new Juventus player.

The 19-year-old Brazilian striker, born in 2002, has signed from Santos, penning a contract until 2026.

The deal for Kaio Jorge, which at one point looked like it wasn’t going to happen based on who else was negotiating with Santos, is one that Juve’s probably looking more at for the future rather than the immediate. It was a total smash-and-grab negotiation, with AC Milan and Benfica in the race to sign him before Juve stepped in and agree to terms on a pre-contract agreement with Kaio Jorge, who was set to leave Santos in the winter transfer window. Juventus saw the opportunity, it was then taken, and here we are because of it.

Kaio Jorge, who has been isolating at the J Hotel and training away from the group since he returned from Brazil two weekends ago, arrives at a time when Juventus has as much attacking talent as its had on its roster in years. Where he fits into the pecking order and what Max Allegri’s plans for him remain to be seen, obviously, and with everybody fully healthy entering the season it will be interesting to see just how much we actually see him play over the next couple of weeks.

But there is no denying that Kaio Jorge is a talented player, even if he is still very much a raw talent that needs to develop certain aspects of his game.

What he does have despite his tender age is a whole lot of experience under his belt in the Brazilian league and the Copa Libertadores. Not every 19-year-old can say that. And that’s obviously something that Juventus is hoping that can help in his transition to Serie A as well as playing with some of the most talented attacking players in Europe.

No matter what his role may be these first couple of months of the 2021-22 season, Kaio Jorge is officially a Juventus player — and that’s good news considering just how little transfer business has actually been completed this summer.