Serie A has had one of the busiest transfer windows in its recent history, with many predicting that this could be the most competitive season in many years – with both Milan clubs looking especially strong.
2017/18 will also be the last season only the top three clubs will gain Champions League football, and as from the 2018/19 season, the top four clubs will gain a place in Europe’s elite competition.
Serie A will commence this weekend and here are a look at seven new additions to Italy’s top flight that will be worth keeping an eye on this season
1. Douglas Costa – Juventus
Perhaps the most exciting new addition to Italy’s top flight this season is Brazilian winger Douglas Costa.
The reigning Serie A champions Juventus have signed Costa initially on loan from Bayern Munich with the option of making the transfer permanent for €40m at the end of the season.
Costa will bring flair and skill to last season’s Champion League finalists in their quest to win a seventh straight Serie A title.
2. Andre Silva – AC Milan
Andre Silva arrives at the San Siro with much expected of the 21 year-old, AC Milan splashed out €38m on the Portuguese international and handed him the number nine shirt upon his arrival.
Silva scored 16 goals in 32 league appearances for Porto last season and has eight international goals from 13 caps for Portugal. Although Silva is seen as a long-term investment, he will be expected to hit the ground running for a new-look Milan side this season.
3. Ricardo Rodriguez – AC Milan
Ricardo Rodriguez joins AC Milan for a fee of €17m following a five-year spell in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg.
The technically gifted left-back has 43 senior caps for Switzerland and played every minute for his nation in their Euro 2016 campaign.
Rodriguez will wear the number 68 shirt at AC Milan – which he chose because of his mother’s birth year.
4. Lucas Leiva – Lazio
Following a decade in England at Liverpool, Lucas has swapped the Premier League for Serie A, having joined Lazio this summer for a fee of £5m.
Lucas, who has 27 caps for Brazil, will bring a wealth of experience to Lazio, as they look to challenge for a Champions League spot this season.
The 30-year-old will be deployed in a defensive midfield role as a direct replacement for another Lucas – Biglia – who Lazio sold to AC Milan earlier this summer.
5. Jordan Veretout – Fiorentina
Fiorentinan signed Jordan Veretout from Aston Villa for a fee of €7m on a four-year contract this summer.
Veretout spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 side St Etienne and following an impressive spell was snapped up by the Serie A side.
Veretout is a former France Under-21 international and at the age of 24, the box-to-box midfielder will still harbour hopes of a senior call up.
6. Salvatore Sirigu – Torino
Salvatore Sirigu is the only man on this list that has previous Serie A experience, having played for Palermo between 2006 and 2011.
Within his five seasons in the French capital with Paris Saint-Germain, Sirigu made 145 appearances and won four Ligue 1 titles with the club, before being sent on loan to Sevilla last season.
Sirigu is now back in Serie A with Torino as a replacement for England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who spent last season on loan in Turin.
7. Hakan Calhanoglu – AC Milan
Calhanoglu is another new signing for AC Milan as the Turkish international joins from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen following a three year spell at the club where he scored 17 League goals in 79 Bundesliga appearances.
In February 2017 Calhanoglu was banned by FIFA from playing for a duration of four months due to a breach of contract relating to his time at German side Karlsruhe. Calhanoglu, who has been given Milan’s number 10 shirt, will be looking to make up for lost time as he kick starts his career in Serie A.
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