Former Arsenal goalkeeper Neto, 37, has reportedly agreed to sign a short-term contract with Juventus until the end of the season, a move seen as cover following a serious knee injury to Kamil Grabara. The report was relayed by reporter Fabrizio Romano, with details provided by london footballhas not yet been confirmed by an official statement from Juventus.
Neto’s route back to Turin was a winding one. In the 2024-25 season, he joined Arsenal on loan for one season, but he only played once for the club, which was the victory over Girona in the Champions League. After that, he ended his tenure without signing a permanent contract.
He left Arsenal in the summer of 2025, coinciding with the expiration of his contract at Bournemouth, and subsequently signed a two-year contract with Brazilian side Botafogo. But that arrangement didn’t last long either – Botafogo and Neto agreed to terminate their contract in June 2026 after a series of costly mistakes, according to the same Football London report.
Familiar faces return to changing locker rooms
According to Neto, he spent some time at Juventus early in his career. “Gazzetta dello Sport”then played for Valencia and Barcelona in Spain, and Bournemouth and Arsenal in England. The exact timing and appearance record of his first spell with Juventus has not been independently verified here, so it’s best to treat it as background color rather than an established fact.
What is obvious is the immediate trigger for this reunion. Grabara, brought in as part of Juventus’ summer goalkeeper overhaul, now faces a long-term redundancy, with the club needing senior replacements to come quickly rather than rely solely on academy options or existing depth discussed around the recent departure of Michel Di Gregorio.
According to the club’s own medical update, reproduced in Football London, Grabara underwent surgery to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, which was described as a complete success and his rehabilitation program will begin in the coming days. Even on a short-term deal, bringing in a 37-year-old like Neto would give Juventus an experienced option if further absences arise between now and the end of the season.