Lloyd Kelly joined Juventus from Newcastle United on deadline day in the winter transfer window.
The Englishman made his debut for the Italian club over the weekend, coming off the bench against Como in Serie A.
More background about his exit from Newcastle United has now emerged and TuttoJuve’s Mirko di Natale has taken a detailed look at it.
The report states that Juve sporting director Cristiano Guintoli had been an admirer of the defender since his time at Napoli, with Juve’s interest in the player going back to the autumn of 2023.
Kelly eventually joined Newcastle United on a free transfer after his contract at Bournemouth ran out. This January, Juve came back in for the 26-year-old after their move for AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori fell through.
Initially, Eddie Howe’s side only wanted a permanent sale and rejected the Bianconeri’s initial loan offer. The Magpies also held talks with Marseille and there was interest from Borussia Dortmund and Turkish side Fenerbahce.
As time went on in the winter transfer window, Juve’s need for a centre-back became more desperate. Two days before deadline day, they ended up offering a hefty sum for an initial loan and an obligation to buy to Newcastle United and were helped by Kelly taking a wage cut.
All this made the Tyneside club consider a sale and despite hitches in submitting the documents of the move, it went through on deadline day.
