Everton are currently leading the charge to sign Juventus centre-back Federico Gatti before the 2026/27 season kicks off. While Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are also keeping tabs on the Italian international, the Toffees seem most determined.
Everton Lead Pursuit for Juventus Centre-Back Federico Gatti
The 27-year-old has found himself out of favour at Juventus since Luciano Spalletti took over; the manager clearly prefers a defensive setup centred on Pierre Kalulu, Gleison Bremer, and Lloyd Kelly. This change in the pecking order has left Gatti out in the cold, and it doesn’t look like his luck is going to change anytime soon. To make matters worse, a broken fibula earlier this year stalled his momentum, and he hasn’t managed a full 90 minutes in Serie A since the end of February.
Gatti’s story is famous, a late bloomer who was working as a bricklayer before his football career finally ignited. He offers plenty of physical presence, dominance in the air, and a real grit in one-on-one battles, plus he’s comfortable playing out from the back. However, he isn’t without his flaws. Gatti can get caught out by pacey attackers, and his disciplinary record, including a 13-yellow-card season at Frosinone, shows he can be a bit reckless when the pressure is on.
Juventus have slapped a €25 million price tag on him. Everton have already had one bid turned down but are reportedly ready to go back in with a fresh offer after tracking him for months, per Tuttosport, via Sport Witness. While Palace and Villa view the Italian as a solid way to bolster their squads, their interest doesn’t seem quite as advanced as Everton’s.
Would Gatti Actually Solve Everton’s Defensive Problem or Just Paper Over the Cracks?