Will Dusan Vlahovic Become Known As Juventus Worst Ever Transfer Flop?

As he looks certain to leave the club this summer, talk has begun as to whether Dusan Vlahovic might be the biggest transfer flop in the history of Juventus history.

Set to be replaced by new signing Jonathan David – the subject of this previous column – the cost of Vlahovic is certainly steep, with a statement on Juve’s official website revealing they handed Fiorentina a fee of €70 million ($81.77 million) back in January 2022.

With a FIFA solidarity contribution of €11.6 million ($13.55 million) and potential bonuses of up to another €10 million ($11.68 million), the full cost of Vlahovic’s transfer is estimated at €83.5 million ($97.54 million)

Why Dusan Vlahovic has flopped at Juventus

Yet despite that huge fee, it was seen as quite the coup when Juve acquired the Serbia international. Celebrating his 22nd birthday the same day the move was announced, Vlahovic had found himself as one of the most hotly pursued players in Europe after a surprising breakout.

Having signed for Fiorentina in the summer of 2018, his first 18 months at the Stadio Artemio Franchi were – outside of the stunning solo goal against Inter shown below – not particularly noteworthy.

But, after netting just six goals in his first 40 Serie A appearances for Fiorentina, the start of the 2020/21 campaign would see Vlahovic’s form suddenly explode. Over the next 18 months, the young striker bagged a staggering 38 league goals in just 58 outings for the Tuscan side.

It was that decisive ability in front of goal that saw Juventus pounce, but they have certainly not seen that version of the player in Turin. And while there are certainly mitigating circumstances regarding coaching and the make up of the side, it would appear that Vlahovic has simply reverted to type.

Indeed, with 58 goals over his 145 appearances for the Bianconeri, Vlahovic’s average of 0.4 goals per game is neatly between his marks of 0.15 goals/game of his first 18 months at Fiorentina and the 0.65 goals/game of that impressive final year and a half.

Who else is in contention as Juventus’ worst signing?

When seeking alternatives to Vlahovic as Juve’s worst-ever signing, the name Melo is certainly prominent. Arthur Melo was signed from Barcelona for a nominal fee of €72 million ($84.1 million) and contributed just 63 appearances before leaving on a series of loans, including a year at Liverpool that saw him manage just 13 minutes of action.

Miralem Pjanic was a makeweight in that deal with Barca, which perhaps mitigates the fee somewhat and allows Felipe Melo to enter the conversation as a candidate for the worst Juventus transfer of all time.

Signed from Fiorentina – something of a theme there – for €25 million ($29.2 million) back in 2009, the Brazilian only lasted two years with the Bianconeri, but he made sure they were certainly memorable.

Juve would slump to a seventh-place finish in Serie A in both seasons, with Melo managing almost as many red cards (three) as he scored goals (four) over that period. There were also a number of incidents between the player and those on his own side, caught insulting Juve supporters on two separate occasions and getting into a fight with Giorgio Chiellini.

With Douglas Costa (€40 million/$46.72 million) and Marko Pjaca (€29.4 million/$34.34 million) both worth mentioning, it would also be remiss not to wonder whether Douglas Luiz and Teun Koopmeiners will enter this discussion if they remain at Juve in 2025/26.

Yet they are unlikely to rival Dusan Vlahovic, whose impending exit makes it almost certain he will be remembered as the biggest flop signing Juventus have ever made.