Liverpool have confirmed the signing of 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma for an initial fee of £26 million. The Italian defender has signed a six-year contract and is viewed by the club as a potential long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk.
Leoni, who stands at 6ft 4in, was also a target for Newcastle United and is expected to go straight into Liverpool's first-team squad. He has represented Italy at under-18 and under-19 levels.
The announcement came shortly before Liverpool's Premier League title defence begins at home to Bournemouth, a match Leoni will attend at Anfield. The teenager made his Serie A debut last season, making 17 appearances for Parma.
Speaking to Liverpool's website, Leoni expressed his excitement: 'I'm so honoured. I was very happy when I saw Liverpool were interested. I said: Wow, this is crazy.' He will wear the No 15 shirt and added: '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.'
