Free Agent Finally Finds A New Home

Dusan Vlahovic will formalise his move to Besiktas this week, closing a summer-long saga that left him without a club since leaving Juventus. The Serbian striker has agreed a three-year contract, keeping him in Istanbul until the summer of 2029.

His departure from Turin arrived quietly. Juventus allowed his deal to expire on June 30, ending a four-year spell that began with a headline €85.4 million move from Fiorentina back in January 2022. Since then, though, finding a suitable next step proved surprisingly difficult.

Vlahovic reportedly expected offers to flood in once his availability became clear. Clubs including Milan, Napoli and Roma were mentioned in Serie A, alongside Atletico Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester United further afield. However, none proved willing to meet his considerable salary demands, leaving him searching for options as pre-season progressed.

Besiktas ultimately stepped forward with genuine conviction. Reports suggest personal terms were agreed at around €8 million per season in guaranteed wages, with performance-related bonuses capable of pushing that figure toward €10 million. A significant signing bonus, reportedly close to €20 million, sweetened the deal further for both player and agent.

Reunion With Italiano Adds Familiarity

Notably, this move reunites Vlahovic with Vincenzo Italiano, the coach who oversaw his most prolific period at Fiorentina years ago. That familiarity likely played a meaningful role in his decision, offering tactical comfort during what represents a considerable career shift.

Besiktas chief Serdal Adali reportedly flew directly to Belgrade to finalise paperwork personally, underlining just how determined the club was to secure his signature quickly. Vlahovic is then expected to travel onward to Istanbul this week to complete his official unveiling.

For Vlahovic, the move represents a definitive step away from Serie A after eight years across two clubs. Once considered one of Europe's most coveted young forwards, according to Football Italia, he now begins an entirely new chapter in Turkish football.