Juventus set to benefit from Denis Zakaria move to Saudi Arabia

The former Juventus midfielder, now at AS Monaco, is reportedly on the verge of a transfer to Saudi Arabia.

Denis Zakaria, the Swiss midfielder born in 1996, who once wore the Juventus shirt, was transferred to Monaco after an underwhelming spell in Turin. During his time with the Bianconeri in 2022, only 11 appearances were made, accompanied by one goal and one assist.

Initially signed with high expectations—hailed by some as the “new Paul Pogba”—the reality turned out quite different. Eventually, a permanent departure was opted for by Juventus.

Denis Zakaria of Juventus in action during the Pre-season Friendly match between Juventus A and Juventus U23 at Campo Comunale Gaetano Scirea on…

Since then, Zakaria has continued his career at Monaco, where his influence has grown to the point that the captain’s armband is now worn by him. However, his time in Ligue 1 may soon come to an end, as a transfer to Saudi Arabia is reportedly close.

According to recent reports, Al-Ahli—where several former Serie A players such as Franck Kessié and Merih Demiral are currently playing—has set its sights on Zakaria.

Negotiations with Monaco are believed to be ongoing, and a preliminary agreement is said to have already been reached. As a result, the likelihood of Zakaria leaving Ligue 1 is increasing.

This potential move could also prove beneficial to Juventus. When Zakaria was sold to Monaco, a 5% sell-on clause was reportedly included in the agreement. Therefore, should the transfer to Saudi Arabia be completed, 5% of the total transfer fee would be owed to Juventus.