Liverpool have confirmed the signing of the 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma for an initial £26m. He has a six-year contract and is regarded by the club as a potential long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk.
Leoni was a target for other clubs, including Newcastle, and is expected to go straight into the first-team squad. The 6ft 4in defender has played for Italy’s under-18s and under-19s.
The signing was announced shortly before Liverpool start their Premier League title defence at home to Bournemouth, a game Leoni will be at Anfield to watch.
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Leoni, who played in Serie A for the first time last season, making 17 appearances, told Liverpool’s website of his excitement at joining. “I’m so honoured,” he said. “I was very happy [about Liverpool being interested]. When I saw this I said: ‘Wow, this is crazy.’”
He will wear the No 15 shirt and said: “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.”
