Ivan Provedel is finally an Inter player. The 32-year-old goalkeeper completed his €3 million transfer from Lazio on Wednesday, passing his medical and signing a contract that runs through June 2029. The deal has been rumored for weeks, but now it’s official.
There’s a catch though. Provedel won’t be walking onto the pitch at San Siro anytime soon.
The Italian shot-stopper underwent shoulder surgery back in March after a serious injury cut his season short. Reports at the time suggested he wouldn’t be back until late August at the earliest. So Inter might have to wait a bit before seeing their new signing in action.
Provedel grew up an Inter supporter, so this move meant something to him beyond just the paycheck. Multiple sources close to the player said he jumped at the chance when the offer came through.
How He Fits Into Inter’s Plans
Inter needed a new goalkeeper after Yann Sommer left the club this summer. Josep Martinez was already on the roster, and now Provedel will compete with him for the starting job. The team hasn’t said who gets the nod once Provedel is healthy enough to play.
His path to this point wasn’t a straight line. Provedel came up through the Udinese and Chievo youth systems, then bounced around a bunch of Italian clubs — Perugia, Pisa, Modena, Juve Stabia, Pro Vercelli, and Empoli — before finally finding his footing at Spezia. That’s where he earned his €2.55 million move to Lazio in 2022.
He’s been called up to the senior Italy squad multiple times but has yet to make his first appearance for the national team. That could change if he starts playing well for Inter.
Lazio posted a goodbye message for Provedel on social media, thanking him for his time in Rome and wishing him well. The post got plenty of engagement from fans, some sad to see him go and others happy about the fee.
For Inter, the question is simple: can Provedel return to his pre-injury form and lock down the goal? If he does, €3 million will look like a steal. If not, they’ve got Martinez waiting in the wings. Either way, the club made a low-risk bet on a guy who wanted to be there.
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