Bournemouth have completed the capture of goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio on a season-long loan arrangement from Juventus.
The stopper arrived in Dorset yesterday to complete his medical ahead of the temporary switch, which contains a purchase clause valued at £12 million plus an additional £2.5 million in potential add-ons.
Should Bournemouth decide against activating that purchase clause, a loan fee of £1.3 million would be payable. The south coast club will be meeting the Italian’s wage demands.
Di Gregorio said he was delighted to have completed the move, describing it as a significant moment in his career and affirming his belief that choosing Bournemouth was the correct choice. He mentioned sensing the club’s strong desire to secure his services and noted the clear ambition driving the organisation’s push for continued progress and success. He described the Premier League as the finest competition globally and expressed pride at the opportunity to compete at such an elevated standard.
Football operations president Tiago Pinto stated that Di Gregorio possesses outstanding attributes and a wealth of top-flight experience. He highlighted the player’s consistent performances in Italy’s top division and continental competition, expressing confidence that he would strengthen the squad considerably.
Di Gregorio arrives having been Juventus’ primary goalkeeper last season, but the Turin club’s acquisition of Guglielmo Vicario from Tottenham Hotspur opened the door for his departure to Bournemouth.
During the previous campaign, the Italian made 37 appearances across all competitions for the Old Lady, with six of those coming in the Champions League.
Thirty of those matches were in Serie A, with a further single appearance in the Coppa Italia, as Juventus could only manage a underwhelming sixth-placed finish, thereby failing to secure Champions League qualification and instead securing a Europa League spot, where they could potentially face Bournemouth.
Di Gregorio would be permitted to face his parent club in that tournament, as UEFA regulations prohibit loan arrangements that would prevent such participation, unlike in domestic competitions.
Now 29 years old, Di Gregorio came through the youth ranks at Inter Milan but failed to make a first-team appearance for the Nerazzurri.
He spent time on loan at lower-tier Italian clubs Renate, Novara, Pordenone and finally Monza, competing in Serie C and Serie B.
Di Gregorio established himself as Monza’s primary goalkeeper during his loan spell, which was subsequently extended for an additional season. It was during that campaign that Monza achieved promotion to Serie A for the inaugural time in their history.
The transfer to Monza was made permanent in May 2022 after the buyout obligation embedded in the loan agreement was activated, and Di Gregorio subsequently featured regularly for the club in the top flight.
His performances attracted attention from Juventus, where he arrived initially on loan in July 2024, with another obligation to purchase included in that agreement, which was then converted to a permanent deal at the conclusion of the 2024/25 season.
During his time at Juventus, Di Gregorio accumulated 84 appearances, recording 36 shutouts while conceding 84 goals.
His arrival may also facilitate Will Dennis’s potential departure from the club this summer, expected to be on a permanent basis. Di Gregorio is set to provide strong competition for Djordje Petrovic for the starting position between the posts at Bournemouth, with Fraser Forster serving as third-choice and acting more as an experienced mentor within the squad.