Zeki Celik has completed a move to Juventus after his contract with AS Roma expired, the Turin club announced on Thursday evening. The 29-year-old right-back has signed a three-year deal with Juventus, arriving as a free agent following four seasons in the Italian capital.
Celik began his professional career in Turkey with Bursaspor and Istanbulspor before attracting attention from French clubs. He joined Lille in 2018 for a transfer fee exceeding €2 million, quickly establishing himself as a key player in Ligue 1. During his four seasons with Lille, Celik made 143 appearances across all competitions, culminating in a Ligue 1 title win in 2021.
In 2022, the Turkish international moved to Roma for a fee upwards of €7 million, where he continued to demonstrate his reliability as a defender. He featured in 151 matches for the Giallorossi, becoming a consistent performer in Serie A. Throughout his club career, Celik has also become a regular for the Turkish national team, earning 63 caps to date.
He has even captained Turkey on two occasions this year, including in a 3-2 defeat against the United States in June during the group stage of the World Cup. His experience and consistency at both club and international level made him an attractive option for Juventus as they look to strengthen their defensive options. The move provides Celik with a new challenge at one of Italy’s most prestigious clubs, while Juventus gain a proven Serie A player without an initial transfer fee. This signing bolsters Juventus’ squad depth ahead of the upcoming season and provides competition for the right-back position.
