Liverpool Sign Promising Young Defender Giovanni Leoni from Parma
Liverpool have completed their eighth summer signing, acquiring 18-year-old Italian center-back Giovanni Leoni from Serie A side Parma. The move, reportedly worth £30 million ($40.7 million) including add-ons, underlines the club’s ambitious transfer strategy and investment in youth, pushing their summer spending close to £300 million ($406.7 million).
Leoni has signed a long-term contract and will wear the iconic No. 15 jersey, previously worn by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The teenager expressed excitement at joining one of football’s most prestigious clubs, calling the opportunity “crazy” and “easy to say yes” to.
Having progressed from Padova to a loan spell at Sampdoria before breaking into Parma’s Serie A side, Leoni has gained valuable experience at a young age. His arrival strengthens Liverpool’s center-back options, slotting behind Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, potentially ahead of Joe Gomez, while adding height, aerial ability, and long-term potential to the squad.
Liverpool’s integration plan for Leoni will likely be gradual, balancing adaptation to English football’s pace and physicality with tactical development under Klopp’s system. The signing reflects Liverpool’s strategy of blending immediate squad needs with long-term growth, demonstrating confidence in their coaching and development pathways.
As the Premier League season begins, fans will watch closely to see how Leoni adapts and whether this investment pays dividends, potentially securing the next generation of Liverpool’s defensive backbone.
