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Liverpool have agreed a £26 million deal to sign 18-year-old defender Giovanni Leoni from Parma, with additional add-ons included. The agreement was reached late on Wednesday, and Leoni has been granted permission to travel to Liverpool to finalize personal terms and complete a medical, expected to begin on Thursday. The young centre-back will join Liverpool's first-team squad immediately for the upcoming season, with any possibility of a loan move ruled out. This signing addresses Liverpool’s need for defensive reinforcements, especially given Ibrahima Konaté entering the final year of his contract and the recent departure of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen.

Leoni, who featured 17 times in Serie A last season with Parma, chose Liverpool over competition from other elite Italian clubs and Premier League sides, signaling his preference for Arne Slot’s team. He is expected to compete for centre-back positions alongside Virgil van Dijk, Konaté, and Joe Gomez, who has recently returned to training ahead of Liverpool's Premier League opener. Leoni has been rated highly among players aged 18 or under in Europe's top five leagues, especially for his aerial ability and defensive qualities.

The deal is reported to be for six years until 2031, with an initial fee of around €30 million plus €5 million in bonuses. Liverpool’s pursuit of Leoni is separate from negotiations for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guéhi, who is also a target this transfer window. The signing is seen as a strategic move to bolster Liverpool’s defense and support their ambitions in the Premier League and Champions League for the 2025/26 season.



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