2 months ago
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Liverpool has officially announced the signing of 18-year-old center-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma, but the young defender won't be involved against AFC Bournemouth as the new Premier League season gets underway.
Leoni has joined Liverpool for an initial $35 million, though that fee could rise to $40 million with potential add-ons. The Italian defender has penned a six-year contract through 2031, after Liverpool beat Newcastle United to the signing.
While Leoni has completed a preseason with Parma before making the move, Liverpool had to register him by noon on Thursday to make him eligible for the Premier League opener. Leoni wasn't signed until Friday, so he won't participate in the game but will attend Anfield to watch his new club in action.
Leoni impressed in a breakout season for Parma last year, making 17 Serie A appearances and scoring his first goal for the club. The 6-foot-5 defender is highly rated and was monitored by several elite European clubs this summer.
Inter Milan was linked with a move for Leoni, as new head coach Cristian Chivu was at Parma last season. Chivu observed Leoni's progression and was keen to bring him to Inter, but a deal never materialized.
Newcastle United was also interested and submitted a formal bid to Parma. However, for the second time this transfer window, Liverpool swooped in to hijack the deal.
Liverpool signed Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike in a deal worth $106 million earlier this summer. Newcastle had already entered negotiations with Frankfurt, but Liverpool turned Ekitike's head.
Now, depth has been added at the center-back position, which was a priority this summer. After allowing Jarell Quansah to join Bayer Leverkusen and Nat Phillips to join West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool was light in central defense.
Sepp van den Berg was also sold to Brentford last season, leaving just Joe Gomez and Rhys Williams behind Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate. Leoni will now enter the fold and is seen as a future starter by head coach Arne Slot.
Liverpool has also been monitoring Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, but he is out of contract next summer. While Liverpool could benefit from his presence this season, Guehi will be available on a free transfer from July 1.
Leoni's arrival follows fellow defensive signings Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. The full-backs are expected to play a crucial role this season, as Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid this summer and Andrew Robertson struggled last season.
Kostas Tsimikas is also linked with an exit before the end of the window, but Conor Bradley has signed a new long-term deal. Van Dijk joined Mohamed Salah in signing an extension last season, but Konate's future remains uncertain.
Like Guehi, Konate is out of contract next summer, and Liverpool has been unable to resolve his situation. While there is optimism that a deal can be completed, Madrid is monitoring the French defender.
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