Youngster “honoured” to be joining the Premier League champions
Liverpool have completed the signing of 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma for £25m.
The Italy youth international passed a medical on Saturday before signing a six-year contract with the Premier League champions. He will wear the No 15 shirt.
While Arne Slot’s side have spent considerably in attacking areas, they have been somewhat thin at centre-back, with Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez the club’s only specialists for the position. Gomez has recently struggled with injuries.
Leoni made his Serie A debut last season, going on to make 17 appearances and score once in his only campaign with Parma. He has featured seven times for Italy’s Under-19s.
Standing at 6ft 4in, Leoni has been backed to become Liverpool’s replacement for Virgil van Dijk, who is now 34.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Leoni described the move as an “honour” and said he was eager to begin working with his new teammates.
“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,” said Leoni.
“I was very happy [about Liverpool being interested]. When I saw this I said, ‘Wow, this is crazy.’ I’m very happy.”
