Juventus have completed the signing of Colombia centre-back Jhon Lucumí from Bologna, confirming the move on Monday after the 28-year-old passed a medical in Turin. The Bianconeri paid Bologna €19.5 million, payable across three financial years, with a further €0.6 million in ancillary costs and up to €2 million in add-ons tied to performance targets, taking the total package to around €20 million. Lucumí has signed a contract running until June 2030, ending a four-year stay in Bologna during which he became one of Serie A's most respected defenders.
The move addresses a specific need for Juventus manager Igor Tudor, who has been pushing for centre-backs comfortable carrying the ball out from the back rather than simply defending in isolation. Lucumí's passing numbers back that reputation: last season he averaged well over 50 successful passes per game at close to 90 per cent accuracy, including a healthy return on long, line-breaking balls. That profile should let Juventus build more directly from deep and, in theory, ease some of the buildup responsibility currently placed on Bremer. Reports in Italy also suggested the move could free Kelly to play further up the pitch rather than as an emergency centre-back. Lucumí is understood to have prioritised the switch to Juventus over interest from elsewhere, including from Premier League clubs, which helped Juventus negotiate the fee down from Bologna's earlier valuation.
For Bologna, this is a significant loss. Lucumí arrived from Belgian side Genk in the summer of 2022 and quickly became first-choice at centre-back, making 123 Serie A appearances for the club. He was a central figure as Bologna qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 60 years in 2023-24, and he lifted the Coppa Italia with the club in 2024-25 - Bologna's first major trophy since 1974 - starting the final win over AC Milan and rated among the side's best performers on the day. Replacing that experience and leadership at the back, under head coach Vincenzo Italiano, is now a priority in Bologna's remaining transfer business.
Lucumí heads to Turin with his stock high. Alongside his defensive duties he has become a reliable outlet in possession, and he showed his quality on the biggest stage for Bologna in that Coppa Italia final. He is also a regular for Colombia, with more than 40 caps, and was part of the Colombia squad at this summer's World Cup after also featuring at the 2019, 2021 and 2024 Copa America tournaments, including a run to the 2024 final. That international pedigree, combined with a settled run of Serie A football, suggests he arrives at Juventus in good form rather than as a project signing.
At Juventus, Lucumí is expected to compete directly for a starting centre-back spot alongside Bremer, giving Tudor a genuine choice in central defence after a summer spent reshaping that part of the squad. His comfort in possession fits the way Tudor wants his back line to play, and his experience of winning a trophy and playing Champions League football with Bologna should help him settle quickly into a club used to fighting on multiple fronts. Juventus will hope his arrival gives their defence more control of games in a season where they are expected to challenge again at the top of Serie A.
