Official | Denis Zakaria signs five-year deal at Monaco

AS Monaco have completed the signing of Denis Zakaria (26) from Juventus. The Swiss international, who spent last season on loan at Chelsea, has signed a five-year deal with the Principality club. 

The fee has not been disclosed, but according to reports, is thought to be worth around €20m. At Monaco, Zakaria is reunited with former manager Adi Hütter. The pair have previously worked together at Young Boys and then later at Borussia Mönchengladbach. The pair shared a warm embrace as they were reunited for the third time at the club’s training centre, as shown on the club’s social channels. 

“Of course [I would be happy]. We have been speaking about it for two or three weeks. I spoke with him yesterday and he would be very happy to come to AS Monaco. I’ve known him since 2015 when I arrived at Bern and he was 18. He was a really gifted, talented player. Then after two years he left for Borussia Mönchengladbach, and then I trained with him a second time there, and this would be a third time,” said Hütter during a pre-match press conference, attended by Get French Football News ahead of Monaco’s fixture against Clermont Foot.

Zakaria is not necessarily a replacement for Youssouf Fofana, but the Frenchman does continue to be linked with a departure from the Principality club. Given the departure of Jean Lucas, more depth was needed in the Monaco midfield, and Zakaria has the quality to compete for a starting berth. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle