Dušan Vlahović set to join Beşiktaş on three-year deal after leaving Juventus as free agent

Dušan Vlahović, the 26-year-old Serbian striker who walked away from Juventus as a free agent at the end of June 2026, is heading to Istanbul. Beşiktaş has landed the forward on a three-year contract running through the summer of 2029, capping months of negotiations and a transfer saga that saw interest from Saudi Arabia and Barcelona fizzle out before the Turkish club emerged as the clear frontrunner.

The deal reportedly puts Vlahović on an annual salary of €8 million net, with a signing bonus that various reports peg somewhere between €5 million and nearly €20 million. For a player who once cost Juventus €70 million plus bonuses, the fact that he’s arriving on a free transfer makes those figures look like a relative bargain for Beşiktaş.

From Turin’s frustration to Istanbul’s ambition

Vlahović’s departure from Juventus was less a dramatic breakup and more a slow, mutual ghosting. The club never entered serious renewal talks, and the striker’s contract simply expired on June 30, 2026. Over his time in Turin, Vlahović made 123 appearances and scored 50 goals.

Why Beşiktaş, and why now

The driving force behind the deal, beyond the obvious appeal of signing a proven Serie A striker for zero transfer fee, is Beşiktaş head coach Vincenzo Italiano. The Italian manager previously coached Fiorentina, which means he has direct familiarity with Vlahović from the striker’s time at the Tuscan club before the Juventus move.

Beşiktaş president Serdar Adalı has confirmed publicly that the club has been working to finalize the signing since at least June 2026.

Born on January 28, 2000, Vlahović started his career at Partizan in Belgrade before making the move to Fiorentina, where he became one of Italian football’s most talked-about young strikers.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.