Liverpool Confirm Arrival Of Talented Teenager Giovanni Leoni From Parma - Check Transfer Fee

Liverpool have announced the signing of highly-rated teenage defender Giovanni Leoni ahead of their opening match of the Premier League season against Bournemouth. 

Leoni, who has put pen to paper on a six-year contract with the Reds, arrives on Merseyside for a reported £26m (€30.1m) fee plus add-ons from Serie A side Parma. 

The 18-year-old's move to Anfield was confirmed earlier this week by Arne Slot, with the Liverpool boss stressing the need for defensive reinforcements.

Liverpool sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen earlier this summer, and they have also been linked with a move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi. 

Leoni is the seventh addition of a busy window for the Premier League champions, who kickstart their title defence at Anfield on Friday against Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth. 

Leoni enjoyed a strong debut year for Parma in 2024-25 after sealing a move from fellow Italian side Sampdoria, making 17 appearances across all competitions. 

He won 43 of his 71 duels in Serie A with a success rate of 60.5%, while also emerging victorious in six of the 14 tackles he made in the Italian top flight. 

The Italian scored his only goal of the campaign in a 2-1 defeat to Cagliari back in February. 

At 18 years and 50 days old, Leoni became the youngest defender to score in Serie A since Andrea Papetti, who did so with Brescia at 18 years and two days old in 2020.

"I'm very happy to be here. It's a really great sensation, and I'm honoured to be here," Leoni told Liverpool's website during his first official interview.

"Yeah, a lot [of excitement]. I'm so honoured. I was very happy. When I saw this, I said, 'Wow, this is crazy.' I'm very happy.

"I want to improve a lot with my new team-mates in training and afterwards on the pitch, in the Premier League and the Champions League. 

"I'll watch the game [against Bournemouth] in the stadium, see the game and then after the game it's a new journey."