Sassuolo sign Sebastiano Esposito from Cagliari on loan with option to buy

Sassuolo have completed the signing of Sebastiano Esposito from Cagliari on loan with an option to buy as Alberto Aquilani reshapes his attacking options following Andrea Pinamonti’s departure.

The 24-year-old joins the Neroverdi until the end of the 2026/27 season, with the agreement including an option for Sassuolo to make the move permanent.

Italian reports place the potential total value of the operation at around €12million plus add-ons if the purchase option is eventually activated.

The deal is part of a wider transaction between the two Serie A clubs.

Riccardo Ciervo has moved in the opposite direction, joining Cagliari from Sassuolo on loan until the end of the season with an option to buy. Cagliari officially confirmed Ciervo’s arrival on Saturday.

For Sassuolo, Esposito’s arrival addresses an immediate need.

Pinamonti completed a move to Lazio earlier this week, removing the club’s established central attacking reference and creating space for a different profile in Aquilani’s frontline.

Esposito offers greater mobility and can operate both as a central forward and in a supporting role, giving Sassuolo more flexibility around the penalty area.

His move also ends a short spell at Cagliari after he joined the Sardinian club permanently earlier in 2026.

The Italy forward has accumulated significant senior experience despite still being only 24, having previously represented Inter, SPAL, Venezia, Basel, Anderlecht, Bari and Empoli across a series of permanent and loan spells.

Sassuolo are therefore not simply replacing Pinamonti with another traditional No.9.

Esposito gives Aquilani a more fluid attacking option and arrives at a point when the Neroverdi are still adjusting their forward structure before the final days of the transfer window.

The financial structure also limits Sassuolo’s immediate commitment. The loan allows the club to assess Esposito over a full Serie A campaign before deciding whether to activate the purchase option next summer.

With Ciervo heading to Cagliari as part of the wider exchange between the clubs, both sides have now altered their attacking depth in the same operation.