Highlights, Goals, Skills, Tackles and Assists.
18-Year-Old Giovanni Leoni – The Next Big Defender In Serie A.
Giovanni Leoni began his journey in Vigontina and Cittadella before rising through Padova’s youth ranks. He made his professional debut at just 16 in Serie C (March 2023), then joined Sampdoria in January 2024—scoring in Serie B across 12 appearances. In August, Parma secured him for around €4.8 million (plus bonuses), and in November he debuted in Serie A. He closed the 2024–25 season with 17 starts, netting his first top‑flight goal in February 2025 against Cagliari. Concurrently, he earned caps with Italy’s U18, U19, and earned a call to the U21 setup in May 2025 .
Transfer Rumor:
The summer transfer race is heating up: Inter Milan reportedly leading the chase with a €30 million bid, backed by coach Cristian Chivu’s interest
blackwhitereadallover.com. AC Milan are also in the fray, eyeing him as Thiaw’s long‑term replacement.
Juventus have shown strong interest, aiming to bolster their Italian core.
On the other side of the Channel, Manchester United and Arsenal have been linked—Arsenal even reportedly ahead in negotiations. Not to be outdone, Tottenham Hotspur are apparently readying a €25 million offer .
Playing Style Comparison:
Leoni’s defensive maturity and aerial dominance evoke comparisons to Virgil van Dijk, while his comfort bringing the ball out from the back is reminiscent of Matthijs de Ligt. His height, tactical sense, and ability to play in a back three also echo the skill set of Alessio Romagnoli—a blend of physicality, ball‑playing prowess, and Italian defensive tradition.