Grygera to join Juventus

AFC Ajax's Czech international Zdeněk Grygera has agreed to join Juventus on a free transfer in the summer according to a statement from the Italian club.

Turin calling
Juventus say that the 26-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Turin club, which will begin in July after his deal at the Amsterdam ArenA runs out. The 26-year-old defender made his name at AC Sparta Praha before moving to Ajax in the summer of 2003. He won the Dutch title with the club in his first season in the Netherlands.

'Still a top club'
Capped 48 times by the Czech Republic, he recently told uefa.com: "Juventus are still a top club. I follow their results and believe they will win promotion back to Serie A. I'm often in touch with [Pavel] Nedvěd, and he's also confident about their promotion chances. We spoke about Juventus and he told me he would be happy if I joined the club."

Juventus situation
Juventus are currently competing for a return to Serie A after being relegated last year following an investigation into a refereeing scandal. Ajax take on Werder Bremen in Amsterdam tonight in the second leg of a UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie. They trail the German side 3-0 from the first leg.

Alderweireld commits
Meanwhile, 17-year-old central defender Toby Alderweireld has signed a first professional contract today that will bind him to the Amsterdam side until June 2010. The Belgian Under-18 international is currently playing in the highest youth squad at Ajax, where he has been since arriving from KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen in August 2004.