Kolo Muani signs for Juventus in a deal worth up to €50m
Randal Kolo Muani is now a Juventus player on a permanent basis. The Turin club paid 38 million euros to Paris Saint-Germain, a figure that can rise to 50 million with bonuses, bringing to an end a turbulent spell for the French forward in the French capital.
From stardom in Germany to failure in Paris
Kolo Muani’s path so far is practically a case study in expectation versus reality. In 2023 he emerged as a phenomenon in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt, drawing the attention of all Europe with his pace and eye for goal. PSG did not hesitate: they laid out 94 million euros to sign him, a figure that at the time looked justifiable for a 24-year-old centre-forward fresh from a decisive World Cup.
But the investment never paid off. At the Parc des Princes, Kolo Muani scored only 12 goals in 44 matches in his first season, a modest return for someone arriving with a goalscorer’s billing. Things got worse afterwards: his place in the side kept shrinking until the club decided to loan him out.
The spell in Turin that changed his direction
It was at Juventus, still on loan, that Kolo Muani rediscovered his football. In half a season in Serie A he found the net eight times, a rate that reignited the Italian club’s interest. Even so, a permanent deal did not come straight away.
The Frenchman went back to PSG with no guaranteed place and was loaned out again, this time to Tottenham Hotspur, the following season. The outcome fell short: five goals and four assists in 41 games, numbers that reinforced the feeling that the forward needed an environment where he could be the main man.
PSG’s loss and other moves in the market
For PSG the sale means acknowledging an investment that brought no return. If all the bonuses written into the contract are triggered, the Parisians pocket the full 50 million euros, which would cut the loss to just 44 million against the fee paid in 2023. Even so, it is a considerable blow to the club’s recruitment department.
Meanwhile PSG remain active in the market. Talks are advanced to bring in forward Mika Godts and Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, 23, for whom the French club has already offered 28 million euros plus bonuses. The Japanese is contracted to the Italian club until 2029, which is likely to make the negotiation a longer one.
Juventus, for their part, did not stop at Kolo Muani. The club also presented young Bosnian Kerem Alajbegovic, just 18, signed from Bayer Leverkusen for a sum between 33 and 40 million euros. Like the new forward, the youngster signed until 2031, a sign that the Vecchia Signora is betting on a medium- and long-term project.
