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Argentine forward Paulo Dybala has moved to AS Roma from Juventus on a free transfer, the club confirmed on Wednesday. Dybala has signed a three-year contract with the Rome-based Serie A club which means he will serve the club till 2025. The 28-year-old said he is emotional about joining his new club. Notably, Dybala's contract with Juventus ended in June 2022.
The 28-year-old Argentine is making a move to AS Roma after serving the Turin-based club for seven long years as he moved to Turin from Palermo in 2015. During his stint with Juventus, Paulo Dybala scored 115 goals in 293 appearances and won five Serie A titles. For Argentina, Dybala scored three goals in 34 appearances.
The 28-year-old said that this decision to move to AS Roma came after a few emotional days. The Argentine also said that the club's determination to sign him made the difference. Paulo Dybala also seemed excited to play under Jose Mourinho. 'The days that have led up to me signing this contract have been filled with so many emotions," Dybala said.
"The speed and determination with which Roma demonstrated just how much they wanted me made all the difference," he added. "I am joining a team that is on the up, a club that continues to put in place strong foundations for the future, and a coach, Jose Mourinho, that it will be a privilege to work with."
The Argentine has chosen to wear the number 21 shirt, which had initially been picked by Matic when he joined last month. However, with Dybala taking the number 21 jersey, the Serbia international has switched to the number eight jersey. The club general manager also reacted to the signing and hoped that Dybala's arrival in Rome will further strengthen the squad.
"Paulo Dybala is a world-renowned player who has won major trophies and gained global acclaim; he will bring that class with him to Roma and I am sure that, with him in the squad, we will be even stronger and more competitive," Tiago Pinto, Roma's general manager, said.
Paulo Dybala becomes Mourinho's fourth signing of the summer - following the arrivals of former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic, Antwerp goalkeeper Mile Svilar, and defender Zeki Celik from Lille.