Kenan Yildiz shines at the Club World Cup, showcasing his magic. Having arrived for free, his market value is rapidly increasing, and he is set to sign a significant new contract with Juventus upon his return.

Their paths haven`t crossed in America so far. While Kenan Yildiz was captivating Washington and Philadelphia with his effective and graceful football, Alessandro Del Piero was moving between Miami and New York, posting photos with other greats of the past, from Ronaldo the phenomenon to Robi Baggio. Now that Juventus has landed in Florida, in Orlando, where they will face City on Thursday the 26th for the top spot in the group, the former Bianconeri captain has returned to Europe, and it`s uncertain if he will visit the States again before the end of the Club World Cup.
However, the two number tens communicate frequently via WhatsApp, and this time too, there was the usual exchange of messages, including compliments, affectionate advice, and playful banter. Kenan started the season by scoring against PSV and breaking Ale`s record for precocity in the Champions League. He will finish it by surpassing Del Piero`s performance in his first season as a starter: for Del Piero, it was the 1994-95 season with 11 goals in 50 appearances. Thanks to the World Cup, Yildiz already has 12 in the same number of matches and can finish even better, causing his value to skyrocket exponentially.
Contract Until 2030
What is the value of the Bianconeri`s golden boy now? At least 70-80 million euros, which could reach 100 million if he continues his incredible average of a goal every 47 minutes. He is a precious gem that the Bianconeri club intends to keep tightly bound. For this reason, they have already decided to further extend the Turkish prodigy`s contract (currently expiring in 2029) until 2030, with a substantial increase in salary (from the current 1.5 million to 4 million). This is a way to reaffirm to the youngster, who is very happy at Juventus and has never shown a desire to leave, his central role in a new project that increasingly revolves around their young icon.
Mister 100 Million
If his on-field growth wasn`t enough to certify his progress, the numbers for the barely twenty-year-old player speak volumes: according to a study by the CIES (International Centre for Sports Studies) from the beginning of the month (before the World Cup started), Yildiz is the only Juventus player in the top 100 most valuable footballers, the second in Italy after Lautaro Martinez, and his current valuation based on statistics and algorithms is around 97 million euros. Having arrived in Turin in the summer of 2022 on a free transfer from Bayern Munich with a salary of 100,000 euros, in 3 years he has climbed the ranks, establishing himself as one of the best talents of his generation and becoming the most valuable piece in the Bianconeri`s collection.
Growing in Turin
John Elkann is a businessman but also a man of sentiment and has no intention of selling his best painting; he prefers to keep it to enjoy whenever he wants. And Yildiz, a level-headed young man with parents who support him in everything, is convinced that Juventus is the ideal place to continue his growth journey, which is just beginning. “Yildiz is a great guy with a good family, and he is truly strong, one of the most promising talents in European football. We must hold onto him tightly,” said captain Locatelli about his number 10, who has settled in the city center of Turin, in the building where Massimiliano Allegri, the coach who launched him in Serie A, used to live. Thiago Motta promoted him to starter, and Igor Tudor unleashed his creativity by moving him from the wing to the attacking midfield position.
Turkish-German Mix
Kenan has inherited mental solidity from his German mother and imagination from his Turkish father, who also passed on his passion for football. His secret is to enjoy chasing the ball as he did when he was just a little kid in Regensburg, where he grew up. Football is not a job; it`s just the only way he knows to be happy. He keeps a low profile on social media and maintains a very private life. It`s easier to find him walking around Turin with his little dog Ramos (a tribute to the footballer Sergio) than in a nightclub. The ultimate relaxation for him is a game of golf with his friend and teammate Jonas Rouhi.
Without Pressure
The number ten jersey became his a summer ago: Juventus offered it to him, and he accepted with great enthusiasm. Now, it`s the best-selling jersey, even in the United States, and Kenan wears it with pride and a great sense of responsibility. The wonderful thing about this young man, besides the way he interacts with the ball, is how he manages pressure despite his young age. He smiles and goes onto the field just to give himself, and those watching him, 90 minutes of happiness. The appointment for the contract renewal will take place immediately after returning to Italy. In 2030, Kenan will be 25 years old, the age of Erling Haaland today, the City phenomenon whom Juventus will face in the last group stage match. According to CIES, the Norwegian striker is valued at 239 million euros, second only to Lamine Yamal (400 million). The ascent of the Bianconeri star has just begun.