Liverpool have signed under-21 centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma for a six-year contract of £26m.
Leoni, 18, made her debut in 17 games last November after joining Sampdoria’s Gialloblu in August.
The 6-foot-5-inch Padova youth product calls the move a “huge feeling” and “honor” and will watch the Reds’ Premier League opener on Friday (20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT).
“This is one of the best clubs in the world,” Leoni told Liverpool’s website. “It’s impossible to refuse this club.”
Why did Liverpool sign Giovanni Leoni?
Liverpool has long been reinforcements against central defense, Jarell Quansah left Leverkusen in July, Ibrahima Konate withdrew from contract at the end of 2025/26, and Joe Gomez was injured at the start of the season.
Virgil Van Dijk turned 34 last month and signed the last contract of the club captain last season, while Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi’s move is likely to be brought in at a high price.
“He is the best defender in the world, and I want to see him,” Leoni said.
“When he plays, he has a great personality, he is very happy with the ball, no ball. He is the leader.”
Leoni, known for his aerial ability, quickly became the regular season for Parma to successfully relegate after initially starting with a 2-1 victory over Venez in November.
“Giovanni Leoni’s debut also has to be satisfied with the boy,” said Parma’s then manager, former Italian international Fabio Pecchia.
“From a psychological point of view, the game he faced was not particularly easy, he did it with a certain degree of solidity.”
Leoni’s nickname is Leoncino – The Little Lion – calling himself “a smart player, smart and skillful”.
Parma gives Leoni a new contract until February 2029. “It already feels like home,” he said at the time.
“I really like the city and the fans are amazing. I was so excited on the day I debuted and I firmly believe this club is the best choice for the biggest growth I work with the team every day and to increase the value of the work I do with the team.”
Leoni ‘mature’ against Romelu Lukaku
The prospect helped Parma beat Lazio and – as part of a seven-game unbeaten – Juventus, then drew 0-0 with Antonio Conte in his last away game of the season, putting Napoli’s championship victory with a 0-0 draw.
“Govanni is very mature for a strong player like this [Romelu] Lukaku.
“We all know his representation in the world football game, and Leoni, with a tall, more mature head, more aware of his qualities, ended the game.
“I expect this boy to have a huge future that he deserves after today.”
Read 101Greatgoals.com’s guide to provide the best FPL defenders and newcomers.
Giovanni Leoni Stats
Padova made Leoni the youngest professional debut in Italy in the 2023/24 season when he made his debut at the 16-year-old Serie A club.
The February 2024 loan conversion lasts with Serie B Club Sampdoria, which signed Leoni permanently in June on a three-year contract.
Parma kept her clean sheets in three of Leoni’s last six games, ending the match with 14 games and three substitutes.
Leoni scored his only goal in the 18-year-old and 50-day victory over Parma at Cagliari, marking his sixth Serie A, his sixth appearance, breaking Marco Rossi’s record, the youngest defender with the highest score in the top flight.
In the first half of Parma’s subsequent match against Roma, he rejected a clear scoring opportunity and received a total of three yellow cards.
Giovanni Leoni Italian Statistics
The former Under 17 international Leoni was called at the under 19 level shortly after making the Parma bow, five of five of the six euro qualifying matches between November and March.
When Italy beat Montenegro, Bosnia, Greece and France, he was part of his defensive ability and beat Spain’s home run 2-2.
Italy has appointed Leoni in their 2025 European Euro training squad, but he has not been asked to get the final team, which includes Brentford right-back Michael Kayode, Brighton and Hove Albion center Diego Coppola, Burnley Winger Luca Kolesho and Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto.
Liverpool Transmission 2025/26
Midfielder Florian Wirtz is Liverpool’s most expensive transfer window deal, joining from Bayer Leverkusen, with the fee likely to rise to a UK record of £116 million, while May’s Wideman Jeremie Frimpong signed £29.5 million from Leverkusen in May.
Forward Hugo Ekitike signed an initial £69m from Eintracht Frankfurt on August 10 and asked for a four-minute rating for the opener in their Community Shield defeat of their Crystal Palace.
Defender Milos Kerkez made £40m from Bournemouth and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who sold £25m from Valencia in 2024 and spent money at the Spanish club last season.
Hungary’s under-21 international Armin Pecsi also arrived from Puskas Akademia for £1.5m, with goalkeeper Freddie Woodman signing from Preston North End for a free transfer.
