Gonzalo Higuain Completes Transfer to Juventus from Napoli

Gonzalo Higuain has ended his three-year spell at Napoli and sealed a move to Serie A champions Juventus for a fee of €90 million (£75.6 million), making him the most expensive player in Italian football history, per ESPN FC's Ben Gladwell.

Continue for updates.

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Juventus Confirm Higuain Deal

Wednesday, July 27

"Juventus Football Club can today confirm that it has purchased the registration rights of [Higuain] for €90 million, payable in two financial years," per a statement from the Old Lady.

"The player has agreed a five-year contract with the club," the statement added.

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De Laurentiis Comments on Higuain

Tuesday, July 19

“Higuain will not go to Juve,” Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis said on Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli (h/t Football Italia). He continued:

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In fact it’s not even right for Higuain to go to an Italian club. Gonzalo has two more years on his contract, if no-one comes up with the amount equal to his release clause he’ll stay at Napoli. There aren’t many teams who can pay that amount. Then we’ll see if Higuain will betray the love that he swore to Neapolitans.

"

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Higuain Linked to Arsenal

Sunday, July 17

Solhekol, relaying word from Sky Italia, reported: "If Higuain wants to go, Napoli would rather negotiate with Arsenal."

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Higuain Turns Down Offer from China

Wednesday, July 13

Higuain rejected an £800,000-a-week contract from Hebei China Fortune, according to Solhekol. 

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Higuain's Agent, Brother Comment on Treatment from Napoli

Tuesday, June 28

Higuain's agent, brother Nicolas Higuain, said he was not happy with the way he has been treated at the club since he joined from Real Madrid in 2013, saying the striker is unhappy with "broken promises," per freelance football journalist Adam Digby. 

Per Closs Continental (via Football Italia), Nicolas said they are unhappy Napoli are insisting any interested suitors meet the striker's massive, €94 million (£77.8 million) release clause:

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This is the situation. The president is asking for the clause to be paid to let go of Gonzalo, and we have the right to refuse to renew. 

We arrived at Napoli with the promise of a successful project, playing in the Champions League and winning the Scudetto, with improved facilities and a desire to grow. It wasn’t right of the club to ignore those commitments.

[President] Aurelio De Laurentiis has every right to demand the clause in his contract be paid, but my brother and I have decided not to accept a renewal.

We’ll see what happens next year with Napoli, given that his contract expires in 2018 when he turns 30. For now, we'll continue to abide by the contract; after that, I don't know what will happen, whether a club will be able to buy him or not.

We have a contract with Napoli and, as a great professional, Gonzalo will continue to respect it. He'll train correctly and give his all. But it absolutely won’t be renewed if things stay this way.

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Higuain Emerged as Desirable Transfer Target 

Last season in Serie A, Higuain, 28, scored 36 goals in 35 matches, and he has been linked with a number of top clubs already this summer, Charlie Phillippe of the Daily Express among those detailing interested parties.

It seems clear Higuain wanted to move to a bigger club, with Napoli having managed only to secure third-place, fifth-place and second-place Serie A finishes in his three seasons at the club.

Given his proven quality in front of goal at the highest level, he could undoubtedly thrive in any of Europe's major leagues, having already impressed in Serie A and La Liga. Juventus have spent big, but will be expecting a return.