Official: Verdi signs for Napoli

By Football Italia staff

Simone Verdi is officially a Napoli player after completing his €25m transfer from Bologna and signed a five-year contract.

The forward and free kick specialist had his medical in Rome’s Villa Stuart clinic today, then drove to Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis’ Filmauro offices to sign the contract.

The announcement video on Twitter played on his name – Verdi means Greens – with a ’50 Shades of Green’ theme.

Verdi had been on the verge of a move in January and the two clubs agreed terms, but he turned it down, insisting he wanted to end the season at the Stadio Dall’Ara.

Now that the campaign has concluded with 10 goals and 10 assists in 34 Serie A appearances, the 25-year-old accepted the switch.

He turns 26 next month and Milan will also benefit, as they are owed 20 per cent of the fee thanks to the deal they struck selling him to Bologna for just €1.5m in the summer of 2016.

This still makes it the most profitable sale in Bologna’s history, note Sky Sport Italia.

Verdi made history in November as the first Serie A player since 2004-05 to score free kicks with both his right and left foot during the same match.

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