Joao Cancelo Completes Transfer to Juventus from Valencia

Valencia full-back Joao Cancelo completed his move to Juventus on Wednesday, joining the Serie A Champions after spending the past year on loan with rivals Inter Milan.

The Bianconeri announced the news on Twitter:

Per the club's official website, Juventus will pay Valencia a fee of €40.4 million spread over three years. He has signed a five-year contract.

Cancelo will slide into the hole left by Stephan Lichtsteiner, who left for Arsenal as a free agent earlier this summer.

The 24-year-old will likely get the bulk of the starts over Mattia De Sciglio, although manager Massimiliano Allegri is notorious for bringing new signings along slowly―even Douglas Costa and Federico Bernardeschi had to wait their turn last year.

The Portugal international was a standout for Inter last year, joining the Nerazzurri in the deal that sent Geoffrey Kondogbia to Valencia. Inter had an option to make the deal permanent, but financial issues prevented them from doing so, per Football Italia. 

Losing the player was a blow for the Nerazzurri, but losing him to Juventus will hurt even more. 

The deal likely ends any interest Juventus may have had in Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian, who had been linked with the Italians, per Tuttosport (h/t Sport Witness).