
Juventus close Thiago Motta era as Savona heads to Premier League
Juventus have completed the sale of Nicolò Savona to Nottingham Forest, with the young full-back leaving Turin after just one season in the first team and generating a significant capital gain for the club.
The Thiago Motta era is now firmly closed, not only on the bench but also in terms of the players he brought through.
After the departure of Samuel Mbangula to Werder Bremen, Savona has now followed suit. The 21-year-old will continue his career in the Premier League, as confirmed by Comolli during the Champions League draw, marking another high-profile exit of a Juventus Next Gen graduate.
The decision to part ways with both players is mainly tied to financial strategy. Juventus will collect around €15 million from Savona’s move, ensuring an important boost to the accounts at a time when the club is seeking funds to strengthen the squad this summer and beyond.

Thiago Motta, Head coach of Juventus speaks to teammate Nicolo Savona of Juventus during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match…
Savona, born in 2003 and developed in the Juventus youth system, moved up from the Primavera and Next Gen to the senior side thanks to Motta, who trusted him last season.
He made 40 appearances in all competitions, scored two goals, and provided an assist, debuting in Serie A on August 19, 2024, against Como.
Mbangula was the other youngster Motta had consistently relied on, but his journey also ended this summer.
The winger, sold to Werder Bremen for €10 million plus €2 million in bonuses, was deemed unsuitable for Igor Tudor’s 3-4-2-1 system. The sale not only matched the club’s financial needs but also brought in a positive balance of €6.9 million.

Samuel Mbangula and Thiago Motta of Juventus during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between LOSC Lille and Juventus at Stade…
These two deals underline how the Juventus Next Gen project has become an essential tool for the club’s finances.
Mbangula and Savona join a long list of young players developed in Turin and later sold at a profit, following in the footsteps of Dean Huijsen and Matías Soulé—now established at Real Madrid—along with De Winter, Dragusin, Fagioli, Barrenechea, Iling-Junior, and Kaio Jorge.
Together, these sales have generated over €100 million in capital gains for Juventus, proving the project’s value as both a developmental pathway and a financial asset.