Liverpool Close to Signing Parma’s Giovanni Leoni in €35m Deal as Defensive Future Takes Shape

Liverpool are on the verge of completing a €35 million (£30.3m) deal for Parma’s teenage defender Giovanni Leoni, with personal terms already agreed on a contract until 2031, the 18-year-old Italian, who broke into Parma’s first team last season with 17 Serie A appearances, is super excited about joining the Premier League champions, as confirmed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, negotiations with Parma are advancing, with the club lowering their initial €40m asking price to facilitate the move, though Liverpool may structure the deal to allow Leoni to remain on loan at Parma until June 2026, the Reds view Leoni as a long-term successor to Jarell Quansah, who departed for Bayer Leverkusen earlier this summer, and his eventual homegrown status (by 2028/29) adds further value to the signing.

Leoni, a 6’5″ center-back with ball-playing ability, has drawn comparisons to Virgil van Dijk for his composure and aerial dominance, despite his young age, his performances against top Serie A sides like Napoli and Lazio last season convinced Liverpool to act, beating competition from Inter Milan and Tottenham, The deal aligns with Liverpool’s dual focus on youth development and immediate squad depth, as they also pursue Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, With Ibrahima Konaté’s contract expiring soon and Joe Gomez injury-prone, Leoni’s arrival could signal a defensive overhaul under Arne Slot, An official announcement is expected imminently, pending final negotiations with Parma.
Sources: Fabrizio Romano, The Athletic, Goal, Liverpool Echo.