Torino have officially signed Verona defender Rafik Belghali, with the 24-year-old switching to another Serie A club, the Turin side confirmed through their press office.
Belghali’s move brings an end to his spell with Verona and gives Torino a new defensive option for the remainder of the Italian top-flight season. Reports in the Italian media have put the value of the transfer at €7m.
The deal follows a productive campaign for Belghali in Serie A. The defender made 26 appearances in last season’s Italian championship, scoring twice and providing six assists. His contribution included a notable attacking return for a player operating in defence.
Before establishing himself in Serie A, Belghali spent a substantial part of his career playing in Belgium. His performances there eventually led to a move to Italy, where he continued his development with Verona and gained regular experience at the highest level of Italian domestic football.
Torino have completed the signing while sitting 15th in the Serie A table after the opening two rounds of the championship. The club have yet to collect a point this season.
For Belghali, the transfer represents a continuation of his progress in Italian football rather than a move away from the country’s top division. He now joins Torino after making 26 league appearances for Verona during the previous campaign and contributing two goals and six assists.
The reported €7m fee makes the transfer one of the key pieces of business surrounding the Turin club, although the figure was reported by the press rather than stated in Torino’s official announcement. The club’s confirmation established the move but did not provide further financial details in the information available.
Belghali’s arrival also means Torino have strengthened their squad with a player already accustomed to Serie A football. His experience of last season’s competition, combined with his record of creating goals as well as scoring them, will form the basis of his next chapter with the club.
The defender’s professional path has taken him from a lengthy period in Belgium to Verona and now Torino. He leaves his previous Serie A side after a season in which he featured 26 times, before beginning a new spell with a club currently searching for its first points of the campaign.
Torino’s next phase of the season will therefore include their newly acquired defender, while Belghali will look to build on the performances that earned him a move from Verona.
