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Giovanni Leoni signs for Liverpool(Image: Liverpool FC)

Giovanni Leoni admits he had no hesitation in moving to Liverpool after his £26m transfer from Parma was confirmed.

The Reds struck an agreement with the Serie A side on Wednesday evening.

And after a medical was undertaken on Thursday, the 18-year-old defender was confirmed as the Reds' eighth signing of the summer just hours before the Premier League campaign got underway with a visit from Bournemouth.

Leoni, who will wear No.15 for the season ahead, will remain with Arne Slot's first team and compete for a spot in the side, with the Reds having no thoughts about loaning the teenager out following the completion of his move.

READ MORE:Liverpool complete £26m Giovanni Leoni transfer as summer spending rockets past £300mREAD MORE:Arne Slot gives Florian Wirtz one piece of advice on how to emulate Mohamed Salah

And speaking to the club's official website following his transfer, Leoni said he simply could not turn down an approach from the 20-time champions of England.

"[I joined] because it's one of the best clubs in the world," Leoni said.

The continuous [game time] in the second half of the season, I continued to play and to play games [and] to have more confidence in myself.

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"I want to improve a lot with my new teammates in training and after on the pitch, in the Premier League and the Champions League."

Leoni, who has signed a contract until 2031, is at Anfield for Friday's meeting with Bournemouth as the champions begin the defence of their crown.

The Italy youth international becomes Liverpool's eighth signing of the summer after deals for Jeremie Frimpong (£29m), Florian Wirtz (£116m), Milos Kerkez (£40m), Armin Pecsi (£1.5m), Freddie Woodman (free), Hugo Ekitike (£79m) and Giorgi Mamardashvili, whose £29m transfer from Valencia was agreed last year.

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Leoni takes the Premier League champions' summer spending, inclusive of add-ons, to £320.5m, with over £190m recouped on the sales of Trent Alexander-Arnold (£10m), Jarell Quansah (£35m), Caoimhin Kelleher (£18m), Nat Phillips (£3m), Tyler Morton (£15m), Luis Diaz (£65.5m) and Darwin Nunez (£46m).

New Inter Milan coach Cristian Chivu had wanted to take the centre-back with him from Parma but the Reds stepped up their interest in recent days and sporting director Richard Hughes reached an agreement with his counterpart in Italy, Federico Chreubini, on Wednesday night.

It's thought that Hughes's sprawling contacts book in Italy and depth of knowledge of Serie A football enabled Liverpool to steal a march on interested parties.