Rafik Belghali has joined Torino from fellow Serie A club Verona, with the Turin side confirming the arrival of the 24-year-old defender through its official press service.
The move keeps Belghali in Italy’s top flight but takes him to a Torino team that has made a difficult start to the new Serie A campaign. After two rounds of the championship, Torino are 15th in the table and have yet to record a point.
The reported value of the transfer is €7m, according to media reports. Torino’s announcement confirmed the change of club, while the financial figure was reported separately in the press.
Belghali spent the previous season with Verona and played 26 matches in the Italian championship. During that campaign, he contributed two goals and six assists, offering an attacking return from his defensive position.
His move to Torino follows a period in which he established himself in Serie A after spending much of his earlier career in Belgium. The transfer therefore represents a continued step in the defender’s progression within Italian football, where he will now remain with another top-flight club.
Torino have brought Belghali in as they look to strengthen their squad during the current transfer window. His arrival provides the club with a player who already has experience of Serie A and who produced six assists and two goals for Verona last season.
The defender’s departure means Verona will lose a player who featured regularly during the previous championship campaign. Belghali’s 26 appearances formed the basis of his latest season in Italy before the move to Turin was completed.
For Torino, the signing comes at a time when results have left them without a point after the opening two rounds. They currently sit 15th, and Belghali joins as the club continues its work in the transfer market.
The transfer also marks the latest stage of Belghali’s career after his long spell playing in Belgium. Having moved into Serie A and made a significant number of appearances for Verona, he will now begin a new chapter with Torino.
The club’s official confirmation makes Torino Belghali’s next destination, while the reported €7m fee gives an indication of the scale of the deal. His immediate task will be to adapt to his new team and compete for a place in the Torino side as the Serie A season continues.