Italian football champions Juventus have announced the historic signing of Napoli’s Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain in a five-year deal for a third most costliest transfer fee of 90 million euros ($98.9 million).
“Juventus Football Club can confirm that it has purchased the registration rights of Gonzalo Higuain for 90 million euros, payable in two financial years,” the Serie A giants said in a statement on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old’s departure from Napoli has been surrounded by great expectations and controversy as Juventus are their historical rival. Moreover, Higuain scored 36 goals in 35 Serie A games — breaking Gunnar Nordahl’s 66-year-old record in the process last season.
Higuain, who joined Napoli from Real Madrid in 2013, also had two years remaining on his contract in Naples. Now, Higuain becomes the biggest ever signing for an Italian club, the most expensive Juventus player of all time and the third costliest transfer in club football history.
He is currently third only to Welsh forward Gareth Bale, who joined Real Madrid for 100 million euros ($109.7 million) in the summer of 2013 and Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Real for 94 million euros ($103.1 million) from Manchester United in July 2009.