Juventus Include Arthur in Champions League squad: Implications for the transfer market

Juventus have surprised many by including Arthur Melo in their Champions League squad for the 2024-25 season. Calciomercato report that despite being one of the players sidelined during the summer and currently on the transfer market, Arthur’s inclusion in List A does not indicate a renewed focus on him by the club. The Brazilian midfielder, whose contract expires in 2026 and who recently returned from a loan at Fiorentina, is not part of Juventus’s long-term plans. His presence in the squad is primarily due to available slots, as Juventus can place several young players, who are now regulars under Thiago Motta, on List B.

The inclusion of Arthur does not preclude Juventus’s sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, from continuing to seek an exit strategy for the former Gremio and Barcelona midfielder. Although the transfer window has closed for major leagues like Serie A, Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, and Ligue 1, opportunities remain in other countries. The market recently closed in Saudi Arabia, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Portugal, but remains open in Qatar, Romania, Switzerland, Mexico, Greece, Russia, Serbia, and Turkey, with varying deadlines throughout September.

In contrast, the exclusion of Filip Kostic from the Champions League list suggests that his departure might be imminent or at least more likely than Arthur’s. Kostic has been linked with a move, although a recent transfer to Saudi Arabia fell through.