Liverpool have signed Italy Under-21 centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma for £26 million on a six-year deal.
Leoni, 18, made his Serie A debut last November in one of 17 appearances after joining the Gialloblu from Sampdoria in August.
The 6ft 5in Padova youth product called the move a “great sensation” and an “honour” and will watch the Reds’ Premier League opener at home to Bournemouth on Friday (20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT).
“It’s one of the best clubs in the world,” Leoni told Liverpool’s website. “It’s not possible to say no to this club.”
Why have Liverpool signed Giovanni Leoni?
Liverpool have long targeted reinforcements in central defence, with Jarell Quansah leaving for Leverkusen in July, Ibrahima Konate out of contract at the end of 2025/26 and Joe Gomez an injury doubt for the start of the season.
Virgil van Dijk turned 34 last month and signed what could be the captain’s last contract at the club last season, while a move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi is likely to come at a premium cost.
“He is the best defender in the world and I want to meet him,” said Liverpool’s new number 15, discussing Van Dijk.
“His personality is fantastic when he plays, he is so comfortable with the ball and without the ball. He is a leader.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly given his height, Leoni is known for his aerial ability and swiftly established himself as a regular in Parma’s successful battle against relegation after initially breaking into the first team in November, starting with a 2-1 win over Venezia.
“Giovanni Leoni’s debut must also be a satisfaction for the boy,” said Parma’s manager at the time, former Italy international Fabio Pecchia.
“He faced a game that was not particularly easy from a psychological point of view and he did it with a certain solidity.”
Leoni, whose nickname is leoncino – the little lion – calls himself an “intelligent player, smart and technical”.
Parma gave Leoni a new contract until 2029 in February. “It already feels like home,” he said at the time.
“I like the city a lot and the fans are brilliant. I felt great emotion on the day of my debut and I am convinced that this club is the best for me to grow and increase the value of the work that I do with the team, every day.”
Leoni ‘mature’ against Romelu Lukaku
The prospect helped Parma beat Lazio and – as part of a seven-match unbeaten run – Juventus, then contributed to putting Napoli’s title win on hold with a 0-0 draw in the final away game of the season for Antonio Conte’s feared side.
“Giovanni had a very mature performance against a strong player like [Romelu] Lukaku,” then-Parma manager and former Romania defender Cristian Chivu said after the impressive result.
“We all know what he represents in world football and Leoni finished the game with his head held high, more mature and more aware of his qualities.
“I predict this boy will have a big future and he deserves it after today.”
Read 101GreatGoals.com’s guides to the best FPL defenders and newcomers.
Giovanni Leoni stats
Padova made Leoni the youngest professional debutant of the 2023/24 season in Italy when he made his debut for the Serie C club as a 16-year-old.
A loan switch followed in February 2024 to Serie B club Sampdoria, who signed Leoni permanently on a three-year deal that June.
Parma kept clean sheets in three of Leoni’s final six games, finishing on 14 starts and three substitute appearances.
Leoni scored his sole goal for Parma with a flying header in a 2-1 defeat at Cagliari at the age of 18 years and 50 days, marking his sixth Serie A appearance by breaking Marco Rossi’s record as the youngest defender to score for Parma in the top flight.
He was sent off during the first half of Parma’s subsequent game against Roma for denying a clear scoring opportunity and received three yellow cards in total.
Giovanni Leoni Italy stats
Former Under-17 international Leoni was called up at Under-19 level shortly after making his Parma bow, featuring throughout five of their six Euro qualifying matches between November and March.
He was part of defences that kept clean sheets as Italy beat Montenegro, Bosnia, Greece and France and played in their 2-2 home draw against Spain.
Italy named Leoni in their pre-U21 Euro 2025 training squad but he was not called for the final squad, which contained Brentford right-back Michael Kayode, Brighton & Hove Albion centre-back Diego Coppola, Burnley winger Luca Koleosho and Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto.
Liverpool transfers 2025/26
Midfielder Florian Wirtz is Liverpool’s most expensive deal of the transfer window, joining from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee that could rise to a British-record £116 million, while wideman Jeremie Frimpong signed from Leverkusen for £29.5m in May.
Striker Hugo Ekitike signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69m and required four minutes to score the opener in their Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium on August 10.
Defender Milos Kerkez came in for £40m from Bournemouth and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who cost £25m from Valencia in 2024 and spent last season at the Spanish club, is now involved.
Hungary Under-21 international Armin Pecsi has also arrived from Puskas Akademia for £1.5m and fellow goalkeeper Freddie Woodman has signed from Preston North End on a free transfer.
