Juventus signs Vicario after Dibu Martínez deal collapses

Juventus announced the arrival of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on Tuesday after negotiations with Aston Villa for Emiliano Martínez ended due to economic disagreements between the clubs.

Vicario, 29, joined Juventus on a one-year loan from Tottenham with a purchase option valued at approximately 10 million euros. The Italian goalkeeper holds a contract with Tottenham through June 2028.

Vicario arrived in Turin on Sunday to begin his new assignment with the club. He will work under manager Luciano Spalletti after completing final administrative steps ahead of his official debut.

The goalkeeper was a regular starter for Tottenham during the 2025-26 season, when the club nearly faced relegation. Standing 1.94 meters tall, Vicario has previously played for Venezia, Empoli, Perugia, Fontanafredda, Cagliari, and Tottenham, where he made 117 appearances since mid-2023.

Juventus had pursued Martínez, the 33-year-old Aston Villa goalkeeper, but the two clubs could not reach agreement on terms. Aston Villa sought more than 10 million euros for Martínez, a figure Juventus deemed excessive. Concerns about Martínez's physical condition following a finger fracture sustained during the 2026 World Cup also influenced the Italian club's decision to pursue an alternative.

Vicario's move to Juventus marks his first stint with a major Serie A club. The transfer comes as Martínez faces the prospect of losing his starting position at Aston Villa, managed by Unai Emery. This is the second consecutive summer in which the Argentine goalkeeper's anticipated transfer failed to materialize.