Liverpool have completed the signing of 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Italian side Parma.
Leoni becomes Liverpool’s ninth new arrival in this summer transfer window, following Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Armin Pecsi, Freddie Woodman and Will Wright.
"I’m very happy to be here," said Leoni, in his first interview with Liverpool's official website. "It’s a really great sensation and I'm honoured to be here."
Why did Liverpool sign Leoni?
Head coach Arne Slot identified centre-back as a key area to strengthen, after the sales of Nat Phillips to West Bromwich Albion and Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen left Liverpool with just three senior players in that position.
In the 2024/25 season, Virgil van Dijk featured in 37 of Liverpool’s 38 Premier League matches, while Ibrahima Konate played 31 times in the competition. Joe Gomez, meanwhile, made just nine league appearances, mostly in a rotational role.
The addition of Leoni, who is 6ft 5in tall, provides much-needed depth and represents a long-term investment at the age of 18. He’ll have the opportunity to develop alongside experienced centre-backs like Van Dijk, now 33, and French international Konate.
Despite his youth, Leoni has already amassed 52 first-team appearances across spells with Padova, Sampdoria, and Parma. In his debut Serie A season, Leoni made 17 appearances for newly promoted Parma, helping them secure safety with a 16th-place finish.
Internationally, he has featured once for Italy's Under-18s and seven times for their Under-19 side.
Liverpool, who start their defence of the Premier League title at home to AFC Bournemouth this Friday evening, have given Leoni the No 15 shirt.
"I’ll watch the game in the stadium, and then after the game it’s a new journey," Leoni told Liverpoolfc.com.
His signing is subject to international clearance and a successful application for a work permit.