‘Big mistake’ - Juventus to sack sporting director now £20m Newcastle United transfer confirmed
Newcastle United announced Lloyd Kelly will be joining Juventus permanently on Friday.
Juventus will reportedly part ways with sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli just months after signing Lloyd Kelly from Newcastle United.
The Magpies announced on Friday that the 26-year-old’s loan switch had been made permanent. Signed on a free transfer from Bournemouth a year ago, Kelly made just four Premier League starts for Newcastle before falling down the pecking order.
Eddie Howe signed the versatile defender for the Cherries but their Tyneside reunion did not go to plan. Just three minutes of top-flight action in his final 12 games for Newcastle highlighted Kelly’s struggle.
Newcastle United make Lloyd Kelly announcement
As it happened, Toon chiefs negotiated a £20million sale in January, with Kelly initially moving to Juventus on loan. That deal became permanent yesterday as Newcastle announced their retained list for the 2025-26 campaign.
“Newcastle United can announce its retained list of men's first team players for the 2025/26 season,” a club statement read. “Callum Wilson and John Ruddy are set to be out of contract at the end of June, however the club has opened discussions with both players about their futures and new contracts could still be agreed.
“Jamal Lewis will depart St. James’ Park upon the expiry of his contract this summer. Meanwhile, Lloyd Kelly’s loan move to Juventus will become a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee on June 30. All other first-team players are retained, with an option activated to retain goalkeeper Mark Gillespie following recent contract extensions for Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth and Dan Burn.”
Italian media reeling after Juventus season
Italian media outlets have been harsh to Kelly since making his Juve debut. He was criticised after making his Champions League debut in February and, last month, notable journalist Cristiano Giuntoli called him “the worst signing” in the club’s history.
Kelly joined a club struggling for Champions League football but, like Newcastle, qualified on the final day. Juventus finished the campaign empty-handed, with a penalty shoot-out defeat at home to Empoli that knocked them out of the Coppa Italia stoking anger.
Juventus set to sack sporting director
The knives are also out on sporting director Giuntoli for his transfer business. Football Italia label Kelly’s arrival as “one of his biggest mistakes” but the 53-year-old also signed Douglas Luiz, Teun Koopmeiners, Khephren Thuram, Nico Gonzalez and Michele Di Gregorio last summer.
Sky Sport Italia reporter Gianluca Di Marzio claims Juve and Giuntoli have reached an agreement by mutual consent to part ways imminently. He was contracted until 2028 but has shelved most of the blame for the Turin giants underperforming in 2024-25.