Official: Weston McKennie completes move to Juventus

Weston McKennie (left) completes move to Italian Serie A Club Juventus FC, with him is Juventus Vice-President Pavel Nedved. Photo: Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images

Weston McKennie has officially completed his move to Juventus, on loan for €4.5m with option to buy for €18m from Schalke 04, becoming the first American in the Bianconeri jersey.

There could also be a further €7m in performance-related bonuses to add on, so the transfer could eventually be worth €30m ($35m).

According to Sky Sport Italia, the option to buy will become an obligation if McKennie plays 60 per cent of the competitive games in the 2020-21 season.

“Juventus Football Club S.p.A. announces that an agreement with FC GelsenkirchenSchalke 04 e.V. for the temporary acquisition, until 30 June 2021, of the registration rights of the player Weston McKennie has been finalized for a consideration of € 4,5 million,” read the statement.

“The agreement further entails:

“The obligation for Juventus to definitely acquire the player’s registrations rights, subject to the achievement of certain given sportive objectives by the end of the 2020/2021 season;

“The right for Juventus to definitively acquire the player’s registration rights in case these given objectives are not achieved.

“In both cases, the agreed consideration for the definitive acquisition is € 18,5 million, payable in three years, which might be increased up to a maximum of € 7 million upon achievement of further sporting performance objectives over the duration of the employment contract with the player.”

The midfielder had his Juve medical on his 22nd birthday, which was on Friday, and signed the contract this evening.

Born in Texas and largely raised on a military base in Germany, McKennie left the Dallas Academy for Schalke in 2016 and was promoted to the senior squad in 2017.

He made 75 Bundesliga appearances, contributing four goals and four assists.