Midfielder Lemina signs four-year contract with Juventus

Italian football champions Juventus have confirmed that midfielder Mario Lemina's season-long loan spell has been made permanent with the player signing a four-year deal from Olympique Marseilles.

"A fee of 9.5 million euros, payable in four separate instalments, has been agreed, with a potential extra 1 million euros to be added on if certain performance-related targets are met," Juventus declared on Friday.

"Over the course of his year with Juventus, Mario has developed into a multi-talented midfielder, able to launch attacks with the same level of excellence with which he defends, qualities that will continue to make him a highly valuable member of the Bianconeri midfield in the future."

The 22-year-old has provided plenty of energy in the middle of the park, protection to the backline and an eye for a goal during his first season at the club.

He made 11 appearances for Old Lady as the Gabon international and suffered a lengthy injury in the middle of the season. He has two fine goals to his name from Serie A outings against Napoli in October and Atalanta in March.

--IANS

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