AC Milan announced an agreement to sign Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus on Friday in one of the more unexpected transfers in recent Serie A history.
Bonucci, 30, will sign a five-year deal after undergoing a medical in the next few days, the Rossoneri said.
Juventus confirmed the transfer fee of €42 million, payable over three years, while multiple reports in Italy said Bonucci would become Serie A’s highest-paid player with a €7.5m annual contract.
Grazie di tutto, @bonucci_leo19! https://t.co/c5XeMR53ct pic.twitter.com/451TYq2jsJ
– JuventusFC (@juventusfc) July 14, 2017
Only a few weeks ago, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said that Bonucci would be the “leader of the Juventus dressing room.”
That is no longer the case, however, as Milan’s new Chinese owners have completed their biggest swoop yet as they reinvent the club this summer.
Milan have already signed seven players aged 26 and under: Hakan Calhanoglu, Mateo Musacchio, Franck Kessie, Ricardo Rodriguez, Andre Silva, Fabio Borini and Andrea Conti.
They also ensured goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma stayed at the club, and have also been heavily linked to an imminent move for Lazio midfielder Lucas Biglia as well.
Bonucci has won Serie A in each of the last six seasons with Juve, and also won the league title with Milan’s city rivals Inter in 2006.
Ben Gladwell reports on Serie A, the Italian national team and the Bundesliga for ESPN FC, UEFA and the Press Association. @UEFAcomBenG.