Juventus outmaneuvers Europe for Oboavwoduo, Spalletti eyes future

Juventus have secured 17‑year‑old striker Justin Oboavwoduo from Manchester City, a move that echoes the arrival of Kenan Yildiz a few years ago. Head coach Massimo Spalletti praised the signing, confirming the teenager will join the club’s plans alongside the first‑team squad.

In Manchester City’s youth set‑up, Oboavwoduo was regarded as one of the best profiles among his peers.

Juventus’ scouting department monitored him for years and noted that his arrival resembles the earlier signing of Kenan Yildiz, who also came from City’s academy.

The club’s scouting team drafted a detailed plan to bring him to Torino, proposing a final development step in the Next Gen side, and succeeded in out‑maneuvering competition from half of Europa and the European Union (UE).

Last season Oboavwoduo featured in eight Serie C matches, recording one goal and one assist, and this pre‑season he has been given a larger platform to showcase his abilities.

Spalletti has expressed strong appreciation, deciding to keep Oboavwoduo in the first‑team roster beyond the initial preparation period, while still assigning him to the Next Gen squad for regular minutes.

Born in 2006 in Manchester to Nigerian parents, the forward is primarily a central striker but has also operated as a second striker and winger during his development.

He has already won two youth championships and an FA Youth Cup as a key player, and finished as top scorer of the Premier League Under‑18 with 18 goals.

Before moving to Torino, he often trained with Pep Guardiola’s senior side, contributing six goals and five assists across the national league and Youth League, and he recently scored in a friendly against Nice.