Roma rival Juventus in pursuit of former Milan midfielder Kessié
Quick summary
Roma have entered the race to sign Franck Kessié, the former AC Milan midfielder currently at Al-Ahli, rivaling Juventus for his signature.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceFormer Milan and Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie remains available as a free agent, and though reports over the last few weeks have linked him with a potential move to join Juventus, the latest updates confirm that Roma are also attempting to convince the Ivorian to return to Serie A.
Two-horse race between Juventus and Roma for Kessie According to Sky Sport Italia , it is currently a two-horse race between Juventus and Roma to secure Kessie’s services for the 2026-27 season.
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – APRIL 25: Franck Kessie of Al Ahli celebrates after teammate Feras Al-Brikan (not pictured) scores his team’s first goal during the AFC Champions League Elite Final match between Al Ahli and FC Machida Zelvia at King Abdullah Sports City on April 25, 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images) Juventus have been linked with a move for the 29-year-old for much of the summer transfer window, and according to Sky, they already have an agreement over a two-year contract with an option to extend in place. The Bianconeri reportedly have the ‘priority’ from Kessie’s camp.
Juve are hoping to shift Fabio Miretti, who is on the verge of joining Vincenzo Italiano’s Besiktas , before formally approving Kessie’s arrival.
SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Fabio Miretti of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) However, according to the latest updates, Roma were also in contact with Kessie’s representatives on Tuesday night and are also interested in pulling off a deal for the central midfielder.
Juventus have reportedly been back in touch with Kessie’s agents on Wednesday morning and they are hoping that they are not ‘overtaken’ by the Giallorossi in the coming hours.
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What happened
Franck Kessié, who left AC Milan in 2022 and has since had spells at Barcelona and Al-Ahli, is now being courted by two of Serie A's biggest clubs. Juventus were already credited with an interest, and Roma have now emerged as competitors in the race. The 28-year-old Ivorian midfielder would bring experience and physicality to either side's engine room. With both clubs looking to strengthen their midfield options, a bidding war could develop in the upcoming window.
Chance analysis
Kessié was once one of Serie A's most dominant midfielders during his peak years at Milan, and a return to the league would represent a notable story. Both Roma and Juventus need physicality and ball-winning presence in central midfield, but Kessié's form since leaving Europe has been inconsistent. The bidding competition could give Al-Ahli leverage on price, while Kessié himself may weigh first-team guarantees against wages. His age and wages make this a calculated gamble for either Italian side.
If signed, Kessié would add experienced midfield reinforcement to either Roma or Juventus, with the outcome remaining uncertain as both clubs compete for his signature.