Juventus have announced the signing of highly-rated Dutch centre-back Matthijs De Ligt from Ajax.
The 19-year-old, who had previously been linked with Manchester United and Barcelona , has signed a five-year contract with the Serie A champions.
Juve have paid an initial fee of 75 million euros (£67.8million) for a player who helped Ajax reach last season's Champions League semi-finals and win the Eredivisie title, while reaching the Nations League final with Holland.
Manchester United had been keen to sign the centre-back but have now turned their attention to Leicester City's Harry Maguire instead.
However, the Red Devils have been warned they must meet the Foxes' £90million valuation if they are to snare the England international.
Cristiano Ronaldo played a crucial role in persuading the youngster to head to Turin and become his team-mate.
De Ligt opened up on the words Ronaldo had for him after their Nations League loss to Portugal last month.
"I didn't understand him at first," De Ligt told NOS .
"I was a little shocked, so I laughed, but I didn't say anything.
"Shortly after the game you are not at all concerned with it, you are disappointed you have lost and that is the only thing you are thinking about."
Whilst the defender insisted his attempts to convince him to join Juventus had little impact at the time, it seems to have proved a turning point in negotiations.
De Ligt has been quoted as discussing Ronaldo being his first idol as a child, a factor which could well have influenced his decision to join him as team-mates in Turin.
De Ligt joins Cristian Romero, Luca Pellegrini, Aaron Ramsey, Adrien Rabiot and Merih Demiral as a new signing at Juve, with recently-appointed head coach Maurizio Sarri also bringing veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon back to Turin ahead of a bid for a ninth consecutive league title for the Bianconeri.
