Juventus have turned their attention to Nigerian midfielder Raphael Onyedika as a potential replacement for Brazilian star Douglas Luiz, whose time in Turin appears to be coming to an end.
According to Punch Sports Extra and Italian outlet FootItalia, the Serie A giants are preparing for significant midfield changes ahead of the 2024/25 season. Luiz, who joined Juventus from Aston Villa in a $60 million deal just a year ago, has struggled for consistency, registering only 19 appearances and starting just three matches.
New manager Igor Tudor has reportedly lost confidence in Luiz, who played just 37 minutes across Juventus’ final nine Serie A matches last season. With Manuel Locatelli now preferred in the midfield holding role, the Bianconeri are ready to cash in on Luiz, setting a price tag of approximately $40 million.
Meanwhile, Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika has emerged as the leading candidate to fill Luiz’s role. Juventus have reportedly sent scouts to assess the 24-year-old Nigerian, who has become a mainstay in Brugge’s lineup and attracted interest from other European clubs, including AC Milan and Atalanta.
Onyedika is seen as a cost-effective long-term solution and is available for around $35 million, with just one year remaining on his contract. Brugge, wary of losing him on a free next summer, are reportedly open to selling.
Sources close to the deal suggest Juventus hold an edge in negotiations due to their existing relationship with CAA Stellar, the agency that represents both Onyedika and several other Juventus players.
While Everton were previously linked with both Luiz and Onyedika, they are now focused on Luiz, clearing the path for Juventus to move forward with the Nigerian’s transfer.
With Juventus operating under financial constraints, a deal for Onyedika would offer both technical quality and long-term value — positioning him as a key part of their rebuild under Tudor.
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