Juventus have signed Italy winger Simone Pepe on an initial year-long loan from Udinese Calcio.

Udinese will receive a €2.6m fee for the 12-month deal with Juve retaining the option to acquire the 26-year-old on a permanent basis next summer for an extra €7.5m. Pepe, who is part of Marcello Lippi's squad for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, said: "In just a few days I could see two of my biggest dreams come true: taking part in a World Cup and joining a big club. Juventus are the most prestigious club in Italy – their history speaks for itself. Now we'll have to write new chapters in this great story."

A product of AS Roma's youth system, Pepe scored 14 goals in 104 Serie A games for Udinese.  He has also played with US Città di Palermo and Cagliari Calcio during his top-flight career, and has been capped 15 times by Italy. The Bianconeri, who appointed Luigi Delneri as their new coach after a disappointing seventh-placed finish, will enter next season's UEFA Europa League in the third qualifying round.