Since Juventus's dominant era ended, their transfer strategy has often raised eyebrows. While some signings have delivered on the pitch despite off-field controversy, others have failed to make any impact at all. The case of Lois Openda, however, stands out as a particularly costly misstep.

Technically, Openda is now a permanent Juventus player. This was triggered over the weekend when Genoa's victory over Sassuolo mathematically guaranteed Juve would not finish below tenth in Serie A. That precise condition activated a clause in the Belgian striker's initial loan deal from RB Leipzig, converting his move into a mandatory purchase.

The financials of the deal are staggering for a player of his output. After an initial €3.3 million loan fee, Juventus are now obligated to pay a further €40 million, with the total package potentially rising to €46 million with add-ons. In the context of Serie A's financial landscape, this represents a massive investment.

The return on that investment has been minimal. Now 26, Openda has managed just one Serie A goal all season. His Champions League campaign was equally underwhelming, with a single goal in 320 minutes of play. His involvement has dwindled to the point of irrelevance; he hasn't come off the bench in Juve's last four league games, with his last appearance a mere one-minute cameo against Roma.

Neither Luciano Spalletti nor Igor Tudor could integrate him effectively. He has often looked off the pace and struggled to find a defined role within the team's system. While other recent signings like Teun Koopmeiners or Jonathan David have faced criticism, they have at least contributed. Openda, by contrast, has added almost no value.

Juventus's trademark instability hasn't helped, but the sheer disparity between his price tag and his on-field production makes this one of the club's worst transfers in recent memory. The Old Lady now faces the tall task of finding a way to unlock a €46 million asset who, so far, has looked utterly lost in Turin.