Liverpool Nearing £26 Million Deal for Parma Defender Giovanni Leoni

Liverpool are in the final stages of securing a £26 million agreement to sign 18-year-old Italian defender Giovanni Leoni from Parma. The club will include performance-based add-ons and a sell-on clause in the deal.

The Reds have reportedly increased their interest in Leoni, a rising star in Italy, and are keen to bring him to Anfield. This transfer is separate from their pursuit of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, with negotiations ongoing for that move as well.

Leoni, who stands at 6ft 5in, has played 17 matches in Serie A since joining Parma last summer for an initial fee of £4.3 million. Parma signed him from Sampdoria, where he was initially acquired for a loan fee of £1.3 million before making the move permanent. The young defender previously played under Italy international Andrea Pirlo at Sampdoria, who praised Leoni’s maturity and potential to become a top player.

With only a year at Parma, Leoni’s value has risen significantly, reflecting Liverpool’s interest in bolstering their defense. He is seen as a long-term replacement for their current captain, Virgil van Dijk, especially as the club’s defensive options are limited due to injuries and aging players.

Liverpool’s transfer activity this summer has exceeded £300 million, with recent arrivals including Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremine Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Giorgi Mamardashvili. The club continues to seek reinforcing options at the back amid their busy transfer campaign.