​Mike Verweij of De Telegraaf reports that Ajax are poised to take Diego Pugno on loan from Juventus, with the Dutch club also securing a purchase option of €1 million for the 20-year-old. It seems that, at least initially, Pugno will feature for Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football. The young Juventus forward appears to be the latest signing under Jordi Cruijff, who has been incredibly active at Ajax so far this summer.
Pugno has spent most of his recent seasons with Juventus’ youth teams, though he did make a single appearance for the senior side during the 2024/2025 campaign. He is set to join a Jong Ajax squad that ended the previous season in 20th place, collecting 35 points from 38 games. The team recorded nine wins and conceded 73 goals over that period, while finding the back of the net 50 times. If Pugno can settle in quickly and make an impact, there is a reasonable chance he could earn some minutes with Ajax’s first team down the line.
With the loan carrying a relatively modest purchase option, Ajax are taking a low-risk, potentially high-reward punt on the youngster. If Pugno proves value to the Jong Ajax setup and demonstrates progression, the investment could pay off by unlocking a pathway to the Ajax first team. It remains to be seen how soon he adapts to Dutch football and the specific demands of the Eredivisie academy structure, but the move aligns with Ajax’s broader strategy of integrating young talent from Juventus’ system and expanding Cruijff’s diverse recruitment portfolio this summer.
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