He is one of European football’s hottest emerging talents, a player who has resisted the overtures of Barcelona and Bayern Munich and been the focus of interest from Chelsea and Arsenal.
But Kenan Yildiz, the 20-year-old Turkey international regarded as the jewel in Juventus’s crown, is going nowhere according to reports in the Italian press, where it has been claimed the striker is close to agreeing a lucrative new contract.
Yildiz, who is valued at €100m (£86m) by the Turin club and has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Premier League, has been identified by general manager Damien Comolli among a trio of “untouchables” that includes the French defensive midfielder Khéphren Thuram and Andrea Cambiaso, the versatile Italy full-back.
Yildiz was dubbed “the Turkish Firmino” in the face of reputed interest from Liverpool in 2023, while former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has also made plain his admiration for the forward, tweeting: “Who the f*** is this Yildiz?” beside three applause emojis during Juventus’ 2-0 home win over Manchester City in the Champions League last December.
The Bianconeri have steadfastly refused to entertain offers for Yildiz, however, declining a £34m bid from Arsenal last year and likewise rejecting a £59m offer from Chelsea this summer that prompted the Stamford Bridge club to turn their attention to the Netherlands international Xavi Simons, who has since moved to Tottenham.
Who is Kenan Yildiz?
Born in eastern Bavaria, Yildiz came through Bayern Munich’s youth system before Juventus fought off competition from Barcelona and Ajax to sign him in July 2022.
He scored on his first senior start for Juventus against Frosinone the following year, and last September became the club’s youngest ever Champions League goalscorer, netting against PSV to eclipse a record previously held by Alessandro Del Piero.
His importance to the club is equally evident commercially, with Yildiz’s marketability evident in an appearance alongside Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal in an Adidas promotional campaign.
Hailed as the most valuable Turkish player in history, Yildiz appears content to remain in Turin – for now.
“Staying at Juventus for the rest of my life would be a dream for me,” he has said. “But in football, you never know what can happen. I prefer to enjoy the present without thinking too much about the future.”
Yildiz’s existing contract runs until 2029 and is worth about £1.3m a year, a figure likely to rise to about £3.5m – putting him among the highest earners at the Allianz Stadium – once a new long-term deal is agreed.
