Genoa reach agreement to re-sign Stephan El Shaarawy

Genoa have reached an agreement to bring Stephan El Shaarawy back to the club as a free agent, 15 years after the forward left for AC Milan.

Sky Sport Italia reports that the deal has been agreed, while Fabrizio Romano and Adnkronos say El Shaarawy will sign a one-year contract containing an option for a second season.

The 33-year-old has been available on a free transfer since his contract with Roma expired at the end of June. His status means Genoa can complete the signing despite the Italian summer transfer window having closed on Tuesday evening.

An official club announcement is still awaited, so the move should be treated as agreed and advanced rather than formally completed.

El Shaarawy’s return takes him back to the club where his senior career began. Born in Savona and developed in Genoa’s academy, he made his Serie A debut for the Rossoblù as a 16-year-old in December 2008 before later spending a season on loan at Padova.

He left Genoa for Milan in 2011 and subsequently represented Monaco, Shanghai Shenhua and Roma, where he had two separate spells.

The move will also reunite him with Daniele De Rossi. The pair were team-mates at Roma before De Rossi later coached El Shaarawy during his time in charge at the Stadio Olimpico, and the former Italy midfielder is now Genoa’s head coach.

El Shaarawy’s availability outside the normal transfer window allowed Genoa to continue negotiations after Tuesday’s deadline rather than rush the agreement through before the market closed.

The essential terms are now in place: Genoa and El Shaarawy have reached an agreement on a one-year contract with an additional-season option. The remaining step is formal completion and confirmation from the club.