Juventus Hold ‘Positive’ Transfer Meeting With Franck Kessie Agent
Juventus hope to sign Franck Kessie when his Al-Ahli contract expires this summer.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 21 January 2026
Juventus have held talks over a possible move for Franck Kessie on a free transfer at the end of the season.
The Ivory Coast midfielder is currently with Saudi club Al-Ahli, but his contract expires in the summer.
Speculation between Juventus and Kessie has been going on long-term, but this summer presents a huge opportunity for them to strike a deal.
Why Juventus want Franck Kessie
As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Juventus have made direct contact with Georges Atangana, the agent of Franck Kessie.
An initial meeting is said to have been positive, with Juventus sounding out the conditions for a potential deal.
The club’s hierarchy reportedly expressed clear interest and asked whether a move could be realistic in the summer.
Juventus are expected to refresh their midfield options, and Kessie is seen as an experienced, ready-made addition.
The 29-year-old also knows Serie A well from spells at Atalanta and AC Milan, before moves to Barcelona and then Al-Ahli.
KESSIE IS BACK 💚#AlAhli pic.twitter.com/VN2SW5Ya0B
— Al-Ahli Saudi Club (@ALAHLI_FCEN) January 15, 2026
At his best, Kessie offers power, ball-winning, and driving runs from midfield, along with leadership in big matches.
Those traits are appealing to Juventus, who have sometimes lacked physical presence and control in central areas.
That is why Juventus are doing early groundwork. If the numbers can be made to work, he could become a genuine summer target.
The stumbling blocks in Juve pursuit of Kessie
Finances are the main complication in the Franck Kessie to Juventus saga.
Kessie’s wages in Saudi Arabia are far above what most Serie A clubs can offer.
This means he would need to take a major pay cut at Juve.
Even if his contract is running down, Al-Ahli are reportedly keen on keeping him. A new contract offer is on the cards.
If he renews, Juventus would probably need to pay a transfer fee, and the chance of a cut-price move fades.
The ball is now in firmly in Kessie’s court.
He must decide whether to stay in Saudi Arabia on big bucks, or return to Europe for less money and a new sporting challenge.
Elsewhere, Juventus want Youssef En-Nesyri, with a new striker one of the main priorities for Luciano Spalletti.
Juve also like Jean-Philippe Mateta, but a deal for the Crystal Palace star is not proceeding particularly well.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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