The son of former professional footballer Enrico Chiesa, he came through Fiorentina's youth academy, Chiesa made his first-team debut in 2016. He stayed at the club for four years, scoring 34 goals in 153 appearances in all competitions. Chiesa moved to Juventus in the 2020–21 season, winning the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana in his first season. In 2024, Chiesa moved to England, signing for Premier League club Liverpool.
At international level, Chiesa made his senior debut for Italy in March 2018. He helped his country win the UEFA Euro 2020, while being named in the Team of the Tournament.
Chiesa joined Fiorentina in 2007.[6] Initially a member of their Giovanili side, he was assigned to the under-19 squad for the 2014–15 season, and scored a single goal in seven appearances for their Primavera side. The following season, he made 23 appearances and scored seven goals.[7] Chiesa signed his first professional contract with Fiorentina in February 2016.
He made his competitive debut for Fiorentina in a 2–1 away defeat against Juventus, during the opening fixture of the 2016–17 Serie A season. Fiorentina manager Paulo Sousa opted to replace him at half-time with loan signing Cristian Tello.[8] On 29 September, Chiesa made his UEFA Europa League debut in Fiorentina's 5–1 home win over Qarabağ.[9] On 8 December, he marked his fourth Europa League appearance by scoring his first ever senior goal in a 1–2 away victory over Qarabağ; he was later sent off during the same match for a double booking.[10][11]
On 15 January 2017, Chiesa appeared to score the match-winner in a 2–1 home win over rivals Juventus, from a Milan Badelj pass; however, the goal was awarded to Badelj, as, following review, the replays did not confirm whether Chiesa had deflected the pass.[12] Later that month, Chiesa extended his contract with Fiorentina until 30 June 2021.[13] On 21 January, he scored his first goal in Serie A in a 3–0 away victory over Chievo.[14] Just eight days later, Chiesa scored his second league goal in a 3–3 home draw against Genoa.[15] On 7 May, he netted the opening goal for Fiorentina in an eventual 2–2 draw against Sassuolo; this being his third goal for the club, and his first in Serie A in nearly four months. The goal came just four minutes after teammate Nikola Kalinić's penalty miss just after the half-hour mark.[16]
On 16 September 2017, in the 2017–18 season, Chiesa marked his 30th league appearance for Fiorentina with a goal in the Derby dell'Appennino against Bologna; scoring the opener in the 51st minute of the game, in an eventual 2–1 home win.[17] On 30 January 2019, during the 2018–19 season, Chiesa scored a hat-trick in the 7–1 home victory over Roma in the quarter-final match of the Coppa Italia.[18]
On 5 October 2020, Chiesa signed a two-year loan deal with Juventus; a €3 million loan for the first season and a €7 million loan for the second season, with a conditional obligation to buy for €40 million plus €10 million in variables.[19] On 17 October, Chiesa made his debut for Juventus, providing an assist for Álvaro Morata and getting a straight red card in a 1–1 away draw to Crotone.[20] He made his UEFA Champions League debut three days later, in a 2–0 away win over Dynamo Kyiv.[21][22] Chiesa scored his first goal in the competition, and for Juventus, on 2 December, in a 3–0 home win against the same opponent.[23]
His first league goal for Juventus came on 16 December, scoring a long-distance goal in a 1–1 home draw against Atalanta.[24] On 6 January 2021, Chiesa scored a brace against league-leaders Milan to help Juventus win 3–1 away from home;[25] it was Milan's first league defeat in 27 games.[26] He scored three goals against Porto in the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League round of 16: one in the first leg and two in the second leg.[27] However, Juventus were eliminated on the away goals rule.[27] On 19 May, Chiesa scored the match–winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Atalanta in the 2021 Coppa Italia final.[28]
At the start of the new season, on 29 September 2021, in the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League, Chiesa scored the winning goal in a 1–0 home win against title holders Chelsea in a group stage match, equalling Alessandro Del Piero's record of four consecutive goals in the competition.[29] On 9 January 2022, during a match against Roma, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, ruling him out for seven months.[30] Chiesa ended his season early with four goals in 18 appearances.[31]
On 29 August 2024, Chiesa moved to the Premier League with Liverpool on a long-term deal reportedly worth £10 million plus £2.5 million in add-ons.[34][35] He made his Liverpool debut as a substitute in the 93rd minute in a UEFA Champions Leagueleague phase match away against AC Milan in a game that ended 3–1 to Liverpool.[36] Chiesa provided his first assist in an EFL Cup match against West Ham on 25 September to Diogo Jota.
In June 2017, he was included in the U21 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship by manager Di Biagio.[39] In Italy's opening match of the tournament on 19 June, he set-up Andrea Petagna's goal with a cross following a corner in a 2–0 win over Denmark.[40] Italy were eliminated by Spain in the semi-finals on 27 June, following a 3–1 defeat.[41]
Despite only being called up to the under-21 side in March 2017, Chiesa was selected by Italy's senior head coach Gian Piero Ventura for the team's unofficial friendly against San Marino in Empoli on 31 May.[43][44] He made his unofficial senior international debut in the match, starting in Italy's eventual 8–0 win.[45][46][47]
In March 2018, Chiesa was awarded his first official senior call-up to the Italy national team, under interim manager Di Biagio, for Italy's friendlies against Argentina and England later that month.[48] On 23 March, he made his official senior international debut in the friendly against Argentina; Italy were defeated 2–0.[49]
In June 2021 Chiesa was included in Italy's squad for UEFA Euro 2020.[51] He was named Man of the Match by UEFA in Italy's final group match, a 1–0 victory over Wales in Rome on 20 June, which saw them top their group.[52] On 26 June, he scored the opening goal in a 2–1 extra-time win over Austria in the round of 16 of the tournament at Wembley Stadium.[53] His father Enrico had scored 25 years and 12 days earlier in Italy's second group match at UEFA Euro 1996 in England, a 2–1 loss against eventual runners-up Czech Republic; as such they became the first father and son pair to have scored a goal at the Euros.[54][55]
In the semi-final against Spain on 6 July, he scored the opening goal in a 1–1 draw; a game in which Italy advanced to the final of the tournament after extra time following a 4–2 penalty shoot-out victory. For his performance, Chiesa was named Man of the Match by UEFA for the second time.[56] On 11 July, Chiesa suffered an injury late in the second half of regulation time in the UEFA Euro 2020 Final against England at Wembley Stadium, and was subsequently replaced by Federico Bernardeschi in the 86th minute; Italy went on to win the European Championship following a 3–2 victory in a penalty shoot-out after a 1–1 draw in extra-time.[57][58] For his performances throughout the competition, he was named in the "Team of the Tournament".[59]
Chiesa is a talented, fast, skillful, and hardworking player, with good technique, a short stature, and a slender build. Possessing good stamina, acceleration, and dribbling skills, he usually plays as a left winger, a position which enables him to cut inside and create goalscoring opportunities for teammates, also shooting with his stronger right foot, despite also being an accurate striker of the ball with his left foot. He is also capable of playing effectively on the right wing.
Aside from his favoured roles on either flank, he has also been deployed in several other attacking positions, given his capability of playing anywhere across the front line; he has most frequently been played in a central role as either an attacking midfielder or second striker, but has also been fielded as a main striker on occasion. He has even occasionally been used in deeper midfield roles, including as central midfielder.[nb 1] His pace and movement off the ball allow him to exploit spaces and make attacking runs to beat the defensive line and provide depth to his team.[72][73][74][75]
In addition to his primary duties in attack, he is also known for his energy and work-rate, and often contributes to the defensive phase of the game by pressing opponents and chasing the opposition's wingers down the flank in order to win back possession, and has even occasionally been deployed as a right–sided wing back in a 3–5–2 formation.[68][76][77][78][79] Moreover, he is highly regarded in the media for his composure, due to his penchant for scoring decisive goals in important matches.[71] Despite his ability, however, he has often struggled with injuries throughout his career.[80]
Personal life
Federico Chiesa was born in Genoa. His father, Enrico, was also a professional footballer; he played for various Serie A clubs, most notably Parma, Fiorentina and Siena, and represented the Italy national team.[81] Chiesa enrolled at the International School of Florence, where he frequently took English lessons. He also spent two years at university, studying Sports Science.[82]
On 20 July 2024, Chiesa married his long-term girlfriend Lucia Bramani.[83]
^"Comunicato Ufficiale N. 45" [Official Statement No. 45] (PDF) (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 18 September 2018. p. 5. Archived from the original(PDF) on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
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