Giovanni Leoni is a name that has been highlighted in red in several club's agendas this summer, including AC Milan, Inter, Juventus and also Liverpool from the Premier League.
Eventually, it was the English club that managed to beat everyone in the race for the talented Italian central defender.
The now-ex Parma player has officially put pen to paper on a deal with Liverpool. The official statement from the Premier League club reads the following:
"The 18-year-old joins the Premier League champions after passing a medical and agreeing a long-term contract at the AXA Training Centre today. Leoni enjoyed a breakthrough spell in Italy’s top flight during his single season with Serie A side Parma in 2024-25, making 17 appearances and scoring one goal.
"I’m very happy to be here. It’s a really great sensation and I’m honoured to be here," he told Liverpoolfc.com during his first official interview.
“Yeah, a lot [of excitement]. I’m so honoured. I was very happy [about Liverpool being interested]. When I saw this I said, ‘Wow, this is crazy.’ I’m very happy.”
Leoni had made his senior professional bow for Padova in March 2023, with that milestone coming just three months after his 16th birthday.
He spent the second half of the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Sampdoria in Serie B – featuring a dozen times and scoring once – before Parma swooped to sign him permanently last summer.
Born in Rome, the 6ft4in centre-back has also represented Italy at youth international level, making seven appearances for his country’s U19s to date.
He will wear the No.15 shirt for Liverpool.
“I want to improve a lot with my new teammates in training and after on the pitch, in the Premier League and the Champions League,” added Leoni.
“I’ll watch the game [against AFC Bournemouth at Anfield tonight] in the stadium, see the game and then after the game it’s a new journey.”
