According to Fabrizio Romano, speaking on his official YouTube channel, Franck Kessié remains a name of strong interest inside Juventus, although any concrete move is far more likely to take shape in the summer rather than during the January transfer window.
In recent days, rumors suggested that the Ivorian midfielder could already become available in January, potentially opening the door to a return to Serie A. However, Romano has played down these reports.
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At present, Al-Ahli do not consider Kessié for sale in January, despite his contract situation not being fully resolved. For this reason, Juventus are not actively working on a winter deal.
Internally, the Bianconeri see Kessié as a profile they appreciate and have monitored for some time, but discussions are framed with the summer market in mind, not the current window.
Romano also revealed that Juventus are not alone. Several European clubs have already contacted Kessié’s representatives to gather information about his situation and to understand whether a return to Europe could be possible in the future, potentially as early as the summer of 2026.
Al-Ahli’s Renewal Offer and Kessié’s Career Crossroads
Juventus’ interest is backed not only by the player’s reputation but also by internal evaluations. Romano explained that, especially since the arrival of Damien Comolli, Juventus place great importance on data analysis when assessing transfer targets.
From this perspective, Kessié has already been approved internally for some time, reinforcing the club’s long-standing appreciation for the midfielder’s profile, leadership, and consistency.
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However, any potential transfer must first pass through Al-Ahli. The Saudi club does not want to lose Kessié in January and has recently taken concrete steps to keep him.
Their new sporting director, Rui Pedro Braz, has presented the player with a renewal offer that includes a very high salary, figures that Italian clubs realistically cannot match. The decision now lies entirely with Kessié.
He must choose whether to continue his career in Saudi Arabia on exceptional financial terms or return to European football — possibly with Juventus or other interested clubs — under very different economic conditions.
After experiences with Atalanta, Cesena, winning the Scudetto with AC Milan, spells at Barcelona, and now Saudi Arabia, Kessié stands at a pivotal moment in his career. As Fabrizio Romano underlined, the next move will be one of the most important choices of his professional journey.