19 July 2017
Juventus Football Club is pleased to announce the transfer of Wojciech Szczesny from Arsenal, the goalkeeper signing a four-year deal with the Italian champions until 30 June 2021.
WARSAW-LONDON-ROME-TURIN
Born in Warsaw in 1990, Szczesny spent his formative years with local side Legia Warsaw before moving to Arsenal as a 16-year-old. After finding his feet in London, the Polish international made his debut in September 2009 in a 2-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion in the English League Cup.
Wojciech would spend the remainder of the season on loan at League One side Brentford where his performances over the course of his first season as a professional saw him named in the club’s Team of the Decade.
A first Champions League appearance in the last 16 against Barcelona would come in the following campaign (2010-11) as the Pole began to stake his claim for a regular spot between the sticks at the Emirates Stadium, a position he would hold with distinction for the following four seasons, picking up the 2013-14 Premier League Golden Glove Award along the way.
With playing time limited after the arrival of Petr Cech from Chelsea, the 27-year-old was soon on his way to Serie A, joining Roma on an initial one-year loan deal - a move that would bring the best out of the athletic and agile stopper.
SERIE A BREAKTHROUGH
The proof of Szczesny’s growth on the peninsular is clear from his statistics at the Stadio Olimpico.
Of goalkeepers to have made more than 10 appearances, only Gianluigi Buffon and Milan’s Gianluigi Donnarumma have held greater save percentage rates - 77 per cent and 76 per cent respectively - than the Pole (75 per cent) over the last two seasons.
While Buffon would concede the fewest goals overall last term, Szczesny was the man to keep the most clean sheets - 14 in total.
With 72 Serie A matches under his belt, Juve’s latest acquisition is poised to embark on a new adventure at the Allianz Stadium where once again he will have his sights firmly set on the number one jersey.
