Aaron Ramsey Agrees to Join Juventus in the Summer

£40m-worth player leaves for nothing

After a prolonged saga regarding Aaron Ramsey’s future at the Emirates Stadium, the midfielder has now finally put an end to all the speculation by signing a pre-contract deal with Italian giants Juventus, online sportsbook news report. He will team up with his new club starting from the 2019/20 season.

The 28-year-old’s contract with Arsenal is set to expire at the end of the season, which means that the Turin side will get Ramsey on a Bosman transfer (free), after the Gunners were unable to reach a deal that would see them Welshman extend his stay at North London.

Former Arsenal legend and current pundit Paul Merson has aimed heavy criticism towards the Gunners’ hierarchy for allowing a player of Ramsey’s calibre to leave for nothing, especially when he is in his prime. Merson argues that this free transfer will cost Arsenal dearly, as they will lose a player valued at £35m-£40m on a Bosman deal, and they’ll have to go out and spend even more than that just to replace him.

“Arsenal had a player in Ramsey that was proven,” said 50-year-old former Arsenal man. “Now they’ve got to go and get someone that probably hasn’t played in the Premier League and will need time to adjust. It’s poor.”

“Arsenal can replace him but it’s going to cost £40m-£50m. That’s where the stupidity comes into it. Sanchez went for nothing and when Mesut Ozil’s contract ran down they have had to pay him an absolute fortune to keep him. It’s ridiculous. […] Ramsey can success in Italy, he’s a good player. He’s a midfield player that scores goals, he’s got experience. You’ve only got to look at Callum Hudson-Odoi potentially going for £35m, while Ramsey is going for free. One of his potential, the other is absolutely proven.”

Can Juventus win even more with Ramsey in their ranks?

Ramsey has so far made over 350 appearances and scored more than 60 goals in the process for the North London side since making the switch from Cardiff City in the summer of 2008. His greatest accomplishments are three FA Cup triumphs (2013/14, 2014/15 and 2016/17), along with two FA Community Shields (2014 and 2015) and an EFL Cup runner-up last season.

In all his years his Arsenal, Ramsey has never lifted the domestic league trophy (the Premier League), but that will very likely change when he teams up with the Turin side next season, as they’re proven winners in the Serie A, per online sportsbooks in Italy.

Juventus are on course to clinch yet another Serie A title this campaign, which will be their eighth straight domestic league triumph. But their biggest aspirations lie in the Champions League – one competitions that has eluded their incredible success this decade, despite reaching the final twice, in 2014/15 and 2016/17.

Juventus third favourites 13/2 (7.50) to win the Champions League, behind the likes of Man City 7/2 (4.50) and Barcelona 9/2 (5.50).

(Check out our review about Bet365 Sportsbook for more info about the online betting site.)