Liverpool confirmed the complete recruitment of Giovanni Leoni from Parma for 35 million euros. This is considered the perfect addition to the present and the future for the center -back position in Liverpool.
The 18 -year -old passed a medical examination and signed a 6 -year long -term contract at Liverpool's Axa Training Center. At the new club, Leoni will wear the number 15.
Leoni impressed the 2024/25 season in Serie A, played 17 times and scored a goal in Parma. Speaking in the first interview with Liverpool, the center -back in 2006 said: “I am very happy to be here. It is a great feeling and I am very honored to join Liverpool. When I learned that the club cares, I said: 'Wow, it's crazy'. This is a great opportunity in my career. This is one of the best clubs in the world and I cannot say it.”
The appearance of Leoni is part of the Liverpool's defense plan, especially after the Jarell Quanusah team to Bayer Leverkusen and Joe Gomez have problems with injury. With Ibrahima Konate, there is only one year left, Liverpool needs a young center -back to strengthen the depth of the squad, and a long -term plan besides Virgil Van Dijk.
At the age of 18, he was 1m96 tall, often won in the airfalls and was enough to fight with the strongest strikers in Serie A. However, football intelligence is his superior point compared to the peers.
“He is very smart,” the old assistant of Sampdoria, Roberto Baronio, told Parma Today. “With the ability to read the match in excess of the average, he knows how to deal with each type of opponent, fast or strong, with skillful movements, push shoulders or block first. These are tricks often only have seasoned defenders, but Leoni has owned it.”
Sharing about the upcoming goal, Leoni said: “I want to improve more when practicing with new teammates, and then show on the field in the Premier League and the Champions League.”