Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Saturday, January 17, 2026, 1:26 p.m. / Updated Saturday, January 17, 2026, 1:26 p.m.
Juventus is interested in the French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta (28 years old), with whom he reached an agreement in principle. It remains for the Italian team to beat Crystal Palace as well, but the competition is strong.
Under contract with Crystal Palace until the summer of 2027, Jean-Philippe Mateta, the author of 8 goals in 21 Premier League appearances this season, is on the transfer list of several major clubs in Europe.
Sky Sports writes that “Juventus and multiple Premier League clubs are interested in signing him” and gives them some good news:
“Mateta wants to play for a club in the Champions League or capable of qualifying there. He doesn't want to go to Saudi Arabia or Turkey at this point in his career.''Manchester United are among the teams interested.
Juventus, agreement with Jean-Philippe Mateta
The Italian journalist Nicolo Schira, who specializes in transfers, goes further and writes that Juventus even reached an agreement in principle with Mateta on a 4-year contract. In this scenario, it would remain for Juventus to also slap Crystal Palace before making the transfer.
Another journalist, Gianluca Di Marzio, says that Palace would like around 40 million euros for Matetaa price that makes Juventus hesitate. The Italians are expected to submit a formal offer early next week.
Mateta, French with Congolese origins, arrived at Crystal Palace in 2021, first on loan, then permanently transferred from Mainz. He scored 56 goals in 184 games for the London team. And at Mainz he had a decent performance, 27 goals in 71 appearances.
Serie A would be the fourth TOP 5 championship in which Mateta would play, because he started his career in France. He has two appearances in Ligue 1, those for Lyon, in the 2016/2017 season.
Oliver Glasner: “If no one pays the right amount, Mateta stays”
Palace manager Oliver Glasner said Mateta is available “for the right price”:
“There comes a time when Crystal Palace say: 'There are 18 months left on the contract, we do the deal if JP wants it. But if nobody pays this amount, then JP stays'”.
JP Mateta would be the second key player that Crystal Palace would lose this winter, after Manchester City have completed the transfer of stopper Marc Guehientered into the last 6 months of the contract. Guehi will come under the command of Pep Guardiola for 20 million pounds, the equivalent of 23 million euros.
