Liverpool have signed 18-year-old defender, Giovanni Leoni from Parma for £26m plus add-ons.
Leoni is considered part of Liverpool’s long-term project in terms of defence but has immediately joined up with the first-team squad to add fresh reinforcement to their leaky back line, which kept one clean sheet in pre-season and conceded twice from in front in their Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace.
Liverpool will pay an initial £26m fee plus further add-ons, which is thought to take the total fee to around £30m, with Parma having inserted a sell-on clause in case of future sale.
“I’m very happy to be here. It’s a really great sensation and I’m honoured to be here,” explained Leoni in his first interview to liverpoolfc.com, as he looks to build upon his development as he dons the number 15 shirt this season.
“I want to improve a lot with my new teammates in training and after on the pitch, in the Premier League and the Champions League.”
Leoni began his youth career with Vigontina and went on to play for AS Cittadella and Padova where he broke through into their senior team with four appearances, before he spent the second half of 2023-24 season on loan at Sampdoria with one goal in 12 appearances.
Sampdoria subsequently signed him in summer 2024 but before the conclusion of that summer’s transfer window, Parma signed the Italian who proceeded to score once in 17 appearances.
Leoni currently represents Italy at Under-17s level in international football, having made his bow in March 2024.
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