Juventus have opened talks with West Ham United over the potential signing of Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd, as the Serie A giants look to reshape their defense for the 2025/26 season.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Bianconeri are exploring a swap deal that would involve Daniele Rugani, who recently returned from a loan spell at Ajax and is not in the club’s long-term plans.
Initial talks are said to be positive, though the deal remains at an early stage.
Aguerd-Rugani Swap Deal Under Discussion
West Ham have expressed interest in Daniele Rugani, whose contract with Juventus expires in 2025.
The 30-year-old has struggled for consistent playing time in Turin and spent last season with Ajax, where he made limited appearances due to injuries.
The potential swap deal would see Juventus acquire a player of similar age at the back in Aguerd, while West Ham would receive an experienced Italy international in return.
Juventus values Aguerd’s skill set highly and sees him as a strong fit for Igor Tudor’s tactical setup, especially with the need to reinforce a backline that could lose multiple players this summer.
Aguerd Form at Real Sociedad
Aguerd, 29, made 36 appearances on loan at Real Sociedad last season after struggling to find consistent form at West Ham following his £30 million move from Rennes in 2022.
The Moroccan center-back was a standout performer at the 2022 World Cup, which prompted interest across Europe, but injuries and inconsistent performances hampered his impact in the Premier League.
Now fully fit and impressing in Spain, Aguerd has drawn interest not only from Juventus but also from Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen.
Real Sociedad are keen to bring him back, but West Ham would reportedly prefer a permanent deal to raise funds for their own squad rebuild.
Juventus Defensive Overhaul
With Pierre Kalulu’s move from AC Milan completed and Lloyd Kelly joining from Newcastle permanently, Juventus continues to reshape their defense.
Talks are also ongoing to extend Federico Gatti’s contract, amid interest from Napoli, while young Italian talents like Nicolo Savona are being considered as future first-team contributors.
Juve are also monitoring Fiorentina’s Pietro Comuzzo, another promising domestic target. But Aguerd represents a more immediate option — a left-footed, ball-playing center-back with top-level international and European experience.
If Juventus can agree terms with West Ham and strike a balance in valuation between Aguerd and Rugani, a deal could materialize swiftly.
For fans tracking player movement this summer, check out our guide to the best betting apps for Serie A transfers to stay ahead of the odds and news.
