Liverpool complete £26m signing of Giovanni Leoni from Parma | OneFootball

Liverpool have signed 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma in a deal worth £26 million plus add-ons.

An agreement was reached late on Wednesday night as Liverpool beat off competition from leading Italian clubs and several Premier League rivals.

Leoni has signed a six-year contract and will join the first-team squad immediately, with no plans for a loan move.

The Italian youth international will attend Liverpool’s opening Premier League match at Anfield against Bournemouth before beginning training.

Leoni made his senior debut for Padova aged 16 years and three months, becoming the youngest player across Italy’s professional leagues in the 2022–23 season.

He moved to Sampdoria in February 2024, making 12 appearances and scoring once in Serie B before joining Parma ahead of their Serie A return.

In just his sixth top-flight appearance, he became Parma’s youngest defender to score in Serie A, heading home against Cagliari at 18 years and 50 days old.

Leoni won over 60 percent of his duels and 63% of aerial challenges in 2024–25. He registered an 88.7% passing accuracy.

He is comfortable with both feet and is known for reading the game well, traits praised by former coach Roberto Baronio.

Andrea Pirlo, who managed him at Sampdoria, called him a ‘fantastic lad’ destined for Serie A.

Legendary manager Arrigo Sacchi described him as a ‘tough’ and ‘intelligent’ player with the mentality to succeed at the highest level.

He revealed that he grew up idolising Virgil van Dijk and has followed the Premier League closely.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot identified him as a key defensive signing, with the club prioritising young talent to refresh the squad.

The move continues Liverpool’s recent pattern of securing promising European players before their market value rises further.

Leoni told the club’s official website he was ‘honoured’ to join and eager to improve in the Premier League and Champions League.