Liverpool Seal £26m Leoni Signing And See Him As Potential Van Dijk Successor

3 months ago

Liverpool person confirmed nan signing of nan 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma for an first £26m. He has a six-year statement and is regarded by nan nine arsenic a imaginable semipermanent successor to Virgil van Dijk.

Leoni was a target for different clubs, including Newcastle, and is expected to spell consecutive into nan first-team squad. The 6ft 4in defender has played for Italy’s under-18s and under-19s.

The signing was announced soon earlier Liverpool commencement their Premier League title defence astatine location to Bournemouth, a crippled Leoni will beryllium astatine Anfield to watch.

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Leoni, who played successful Serie A for nan first clip past season, making 17 appearances, told Liverpool’s website of his excitement astatine joining. “I’m truthful honoured,” he said. “I was very happy [about Liverpool being interested]. When I saw this I said: ‘Wow, this is crazy.’”

He will deterioration nan No 15 garment and said: “I want to amended a batch pinch my caller teammates successful training and aft connected nan pitch, successful nan Premier League and nan Champions League.”