Vicario set to leave Tottenham for Juventus on loan after Martinez pursuit stalls

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a season-long loan deal allowing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to join Juventus, with an option to purchase included in the agreement, the Press Association understands. The 29-year-old Italy international is expected to be available for Juventus’s Serie A opener at Frosinone on Sunday.

Vicario had spent the summer in limbo after requesting permission from Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi to return to Italy, having made 117 appearances for the north London club since arriving from Empoli in 2023. De Zerbi sanctioned the departure after young Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky impressed during the final seven matches of last season, helping steer the club away from relegation.

The move to Turin is the conclusion of a convoluted transfer saga that saw Juventus pursue several alternatives before landing on Vicario. Manager Luciano Spalletti had prioritised Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, the Argentina World Cup winner, but negotiations broke down weeks ago over a valuation gap on the 33-year-old’s permanent fee. Juventus then shifted their attention to Parma’s Zion Suzuki, with a loan deal for the Japan international appearing close — only for Paris Saint-Germain to intervene.

Suzuki’s move to PSG subsequently collapsed, briefly reopening the possibility of Martinez joining Juventus, but fitness concerns over a finger injury the Argentine sustained prompted the Italian club to accelerate their pursuit of Vicario instead. Juventus initiated formal negotiations with Tottenham on Sunday and moved quickly to finalise terms.

A potential move to Inter Milan had earlier appeared the most likely destination for Vicario, before the reigning Italian champions opted to look elsewhere for goalkeeping cover. That decision redirected Juventus toward him at a critical moment in the window.

Vicario, who helped Tottenham claim Europa League success last year, endured a more difficult 2025-26 campaign at Spurs. The loan move represents a fresh start in his home country ahead of what will be a pivotal season for Juventus as they look to close the gap on Serie A’s leading clubs.