Dušan Vlahović Completes Free Transfer to Beşiktaş, Ending Arsenal Speculation
Dušan Vlahović has officially ended his tenure at Juventus, as he completes a free transfer to Beşiktaş. This transfer concludes years of speculation about a potential move to Arsenal.
The Serbian striker signed a three-year contract that extends until June 2029 after departing Juventus, where he netted 68 goals and provided 16 assists across 168 appearances over four-and-a-half years.
By joining Beşiktaş, Vlahović reunites with former Arsenal player Leandro Trossard, who has also signed with the Turkish club this summer. This agreement puts a final stop to the transfer murmurs that have frequently circled around him during his time at Juventus.
Arsenal’s strongest interest in Vlahović surfaced back in January 2022 when he was making headlines with Fiorentina and had only 18 months left on his contract. With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang nearing departure, Arsenal saw Vlahović as a primary target after his impressive tally of 41 goals in a season and a half with Fiorentina.
However, the anticipated transfer to Arsenal did not happen. Instead, Juventus negotiated a deal with Fiorentina believed to be worth €75 million and completed Vlahović’s signing on his 22nd birthday.
While Arsenal maintained interest, the financial terms were challenging to match. Vlahović later denied that he had turned down Arsenal, noting he never engaged with them directly and that any discussions were handled through his representatives.
Even though speculation persisted during his Juventus career, especially as his contract neared its end and it appeared a reduced price could be negotiated, there were no confirmed bids or advanced discussions from Arsenal.
Ultimately, Beşiktaş has secured one of the summer’s standout transfers as Vlahović makes his move.
The Turkish side reportedly offered Vlahović a lucrative three-year contract with an annual salary of approximately €7.5 million (€144,000 per week). The absence of a transfer fee has enabled Beşiktaş to allocate more resources towards wages and a signing bonus.
Moreover, the influence of manager Vincenzo Italiano, who previously coached Vlahović at Fiorentina during his prolific scoring period, played a significant role in this transfer. Italiano’s personal efforts to bring Vlahović back and reassure him of his centrality in the attack were pivotal.
While clubs like Chelsea, Napoli, Real Madrid, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Arsenal were mentioned as potential suitors for Vlahović at different times, no substantial offers were made that could compete with Beşiktaş’s proposal.
Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images
The Serbian striker has left Juventus as a free agent, bringing years of Arsenal speculation to an end after one of Europe’s most talked-about transfer sagas.
Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images
Dušan Vlahović has finally brought the curtain down on his time at Juventus, with the former Arsenal target completing a free transfer to Beşiktaş after years of speculation linking him with a move to north London.
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The Serbia international has signed a three-year contract until June 2029 after leaving Juventus at the end of his deal, ending a four-and-a-half-year spell in Turin during which he scored 68 goals, with 16 assists, in 168 games.
Vlahović’s move unites him with former Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard, who also joined Beşiktaş this summer, while bringing an end to one of the transfer sagas that repeatedly resurfaced around the Emirates.
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Arsenal’s strongest reported pursuit came in January 2022, when Vlahović was starring for Fiorentina and had entered the final 18 months of his contract.
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With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang heading towards the exit, Arsenal identified the prolific striker as a leading target after he scored 41 goals across a season and a half in Florence.
The move never materialised.
Juventus reached an agreement with Fiorentina on a package reported to be worth €75 million and completed the transfer on Vlahović’s 22nd birthday.
Arsenal’s interest was well documented, but the overall financial package proved difficult to match.
Vlahović later rejected the suggestion that he had personally turned Arsenal down, explaining he had never spoken directly with the club and that any discussions would have been handled by his representatives.
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His name continued to be linked with Arsenal throughout his Juventus career, particularly as his contract wound down and reports suggested he could become available at a reduced price.
Despite recurring speculation, there was never any confirmed Arsenal bid or advanced negotiations.
Instead, Beşiktaş have secured one of the summer’s most eye-catching free transfers.
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The Turkish club are reported to have offered Vlahović a three-year contract worth around €7.5 million per season (€144kpw), with the absence of a transfer fee allowing them to commit more of their budget towards wages and a signing-on package.
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Another significant factor was the presence of manager Vincenzo Italiano, who coached Vlahović at Fiorentina during the most prolific period of his career that saw him score 20 goals, with four assists, in 24 matches under him.
Reports suggest Italiano personally pushed for the reunion and convinced the striker he would again become the focal point of his attack.
Although clubs including Chelsea, Napoli, Real Madrid, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Arsenal were all linked with Vlahović at various stages, there is no evidence any submitted formal offers capable of competing with Beşiktaş’s proposal.
Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images
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