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IMAGE CREDITS: Liverpool Football Club

Liverpool Football Club have officially confirmed the signing of Giovanni Leoni this evening ahead of the Premier League opener against AFC Bournemouth.

In the build-up to tonight’s ceremony, Leoni completed his medical examinations at the AXA Training Centre yesterdayafter flying in from Italy that morning.

The teenager was spotted heading onto his flight to Liverpool.

Despite his tender age of 18, Leoni has already featured prominently in Serie A.

“I’m very happy to be here.

I was very happy [about Liverpool being interested]?

When I saw this I said, ‘Wow, this is crazy.’ I’m very happy.”

He made 17 appearances for Parma last season, earning plaudits for his aerial dominance, positional intelligence, and composure on the ball far beyond his age.

The centre-back’s permanent transfer is reported to be valued at approximately £26 million, with potential add-ons that could see the total package rise.

Liverpool have tied Leoni to a long-term contract, believed to run until 2029, rejecting any notion of an immediate loan and instead integrating him directly into Arne Slot’s first-team setup.

Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director, flew to Italy on Wednesday to finalize terms with Parma chief executive Federico Cherubini.

Though naturally a left-sided centre-half, the Italian can operate across a back three as needed.

His arrival addresses a crucial depth requirement esepcially with Jarell Quansah’s departure and Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation.

In total, Leoni has just 33 senior appearances under his belt, yet Liverpool’s £26 million outlay shows their confidence in his potential.

The fee equates to around £500,000 for every Serie A match he has played – a clear indication of the premium placed on emerging defensive talent in today’s game.

Both Newcastle United and Manchester United made last-ditch attempts to hijack Giovanni Leoni’s move, but their efforts ultimately fell short.

According to the Times, Liverpool also fended off determined interest from Serie A giants AC Milan and Inter Milan to secure the signing.

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