Juventus are preparing to give Pierre Kalulu a more central place in the club’s long-term plans, with discussions under way over a new contract for the French defender.
The decision
Kalulu is already tied to Juventus until 2029 and earns around €2.5 million per season, but the club see room to revise an agreement that no longer reflects his standing in the squad. The intention is not simply to add years to the deal, but to recognise a player who has become a dependable figure both on the pitch and inside the dressing room.
Juventus had opportunities to consider his departure during the previous summer, when the need to create room in the market and protect the accounts brought difficult choices. Interest could have emerged from the Premier League and elsewhere, yet the club did not seriously pursue a sale. Luciano Spalletti and the Juventus hierarchy considered Kalulu too important to the project being built at Continassa.
The defender cost Juventus a little over €14 million after his initial loan spell, with bonuses capable of taking the total close to €17 million. He belongs to a group of players acquired on relatively modest terms who have delivered strong value, a profile that can naturally attract attention from wealthier clubs. Lower salaries can make such players appealing on the market, while also making substantial offers tempting for a club that must remain attentive to its financial balance.
In Kalulu’s case, Juventus have chosen continuity. At 26, he is being viewed as a potential senior presence for years to come, with a substantial renewal capable of strengthening that role. His representatives are not expected to make excessive demands, another indication that the player shares the club’s faith in the current direction.
His importance has grown beyond his versatility. Kalulu can operate at right-back or as the right-sided defender in a back three, and his route to Turin has invited comparisons with Andrea Barzagli: a player arriving after previous experiences had suggested his peak might already have passed. Instead, Kalulu has moved beyond the consequences of a serious injury and steadily improved his reliability.
That progress has carried particular weight in a Juventus group still developing its identity. Kalulu is regarded as a calm voice in the dressing room, a player who supports the coach, protects his team-mates in public and does not add unnecessary noise around the club. Juventus believe that kind of personality is worth securing as much as his defensive contribution.
The next contract is therefore set to be a statement of trust. Juventus want Kalulu to be more than an affordable signing who succeeded beyond expectations; they want him to become one of the stable figures around whom the next stage of the team can be shaped.
