Michele Di Gregorio (Image: AFC Bournemouth)
Michele Di Gregorio (Image: AFC Bournemouth)
THE Cherries have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio on a season-long loan from Juventus.
The keeper travelled to Bournemouth yesterday for a medical ahead of a loan move that includes an option to buy worth £12 million plus £2.5 million in add-ons.
Should the Cherries opt not to trigger that option, there will be a loan fee of £1.3 million for the keeper. Bournemouth will be covering the Italian’s wages.
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Di Gregorio told afcb.co.uk: “I’m very happy to be here. This is a very important moment for me and that's why I think the decision to come here to Bournemouth was the right one.
“I felt the club's desire to have me here and I felt the ambition that this club has to continue to grow and do great things. The Premier League is the most beautiful league in the world. It's an honour for me to be here and to have the chance to play and play at such a high level.”
Michele Di Gregorio (Image: AFC Bournemouth)
President of football operations Tiago Pinto added: “Michele is a goalkeeper with excellent qualities and valuable experience at the highest level. He has consistently demonstrated his ability in Serie A and in European competitions, and we believe he will be an excellent addition to our squad.”
Di Gregorio arrives in Dorset having been Juventus’ number one keeper last season, but the Italian club have signed Guglielmo Vicaro from Tottenham Hotspur, which has prompted Di Gregorio’s move to the Cherries.
Last term, the Italian played 37 times in all competitions for Juve, including six appearances in the Champions League.
Michele Di Gregorio (Image: AFC Bournemouth)
Thirty of those came in Serie A, with one in the Italian cup, as Juventus finished in a disappointing sixth place, missing out on the Champions League and qualifying for the Europa League, where they could play Bournemouth.
Di Gregorio would be free to play against his parent club in that competition, as UEFA does not allow loan agreements that would prevent him from doing so, unlike domestically.
Aged 29, Di Gregorio began his career at Inter Milan in their youth teams, although he never made a senior appearance for the club.
He had loan spells in Serie C and Serie B at clubs Renate, Novara, Pordenone and finally Monza.
Di Gregorio established himself as Monza’s number one and the loan was extended for a second season, and it was that campaign where the club reached Serie A for the first time in their history.
Michele Di Gregorio (Image: AFC Bournemouth)
The move to Monza was made permanent in May 2022 after the obligation to buy in the loan was triggered, and Di Gregorio went on to feature heavily for the club in the top flight.
That attracted the interest of Juventus, where he signed on an initial loan in July 2024, with another obligation to buy included in the deal, which was then made permanent at the end of the 24/25 season.
While at Juventus, Di Gregorio made 84 appearances, keeping 36 clean sheets and conceding 84 goals.
His arrival may also pave the way for Will Dennis to leave the club this summer, likely on a permanent deal, with Di Gregorio providing good competition to Djordje Petrovic for the number one spot at Bournemouth, and Fraser Forster acting as number three and more of a mentor in the group.