OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: Juventus sign Vitoria Guimaraes fullback Alberto Costa

Yesterday at 02:00 PM

Juventus have made their first signing of the January transfer window, and it is very much at a position of need.

As Juventus headed into their first weekend of Serie A action for 2025, it felt like help was on the way to try and alleviate the defensive depth crunch that Thiago Motta has had to deal with for the better part of the last three months.

All of a few days later and by the time midweek arrived, the first piece of help was indeed getting off a private jet, waving for the cameras and stepping foot in J Medical.

Juventus announced Wednesday evening that 21-year-old Portuguese fullback Alberto Costa has completed his move to Turin from Vitoria Guimaraes for an initial fee of €12.5 million. Worked into the deal for Costa are another €2.5 million in bonuses as well as €1.3 million in ancillary costs. Costa, a member of Portugal's Under-20 setup, has signed a contract with Juventus through 2029 and has been praised in the official announcement as somebody who has the "ability to read defensive situations, combined with a good sense of positioning and willingness to push forward."

We're going to find that out in what feels like relatively short order.

The official details of the deal, courtesy of Juventus' press office:

Turin, 15 January 2025 – Juventus Football Club S.p.A. announces that an agreement with Vitória Sport Clube for the definitive acquisition of the registration rights of the player Alberto Oliveira Baio has been reached for a consideration of € 12.5 million, payable in four financial years, with the addition of ancillary costs up to € 1.3 million.

Furthermore, bonuses up to a maximum of € 2.5 million are envisaged upon the achievement of further performance objectives.

Juventus and the player have signed a contract of employment until 30 June 2029.

So here he is, folks. Here is Alberto. Here is the first player to wear the No. 2 jersey since our beloved Mattia De Sciglio left Juventus last summer. Those are big shoes to fill.

Costa, who turned 21 back in September, has made 10 league appearances in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, and is the second-youngest player in Portugal to record at least two assists this season. His playing time has certainly seen a major uptick of late, with most of his seven domestic starts coming over the last six weeks.

With Costa's signings, Juventus will have another option at right back and be able to give another 21-year-old, Nicolo Savona, a bit of a respite after playing a huge amount of minutes the last two months. Due to injuries and Danilo first seeing his role reduced and then ultimate completely removed from the squad, Savona has played much more than anybody thought he would when he first got promoted from the Next Gen setup.

Costa will certainly provide a different look on the right than Savona. And, at the very least, ensure that the young Italian won't have to play every single time Juventus take the field.