Giovanni Leoni

For the Italian violinist, see Giovanni Antonio Leoni.
Not to be confused with Giovanni Leone.

Giovanni Leoni
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-12-21) 21 December 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Rome, Italy[1]
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Parma
Number 46
Youth career
2009–2015 Vigontina
2015–2019 Cittadella
2019–2023 Padova
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2024 Padova 1 (0)
2024 → Sampdoria (loan) 12 (1)
2024 Sampdoria 0 (0)
2024– Parma 0 (0)
International career‡
2024– Italy U18 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 March 2024

Giovanni Leoni (born 21 December 2006) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Parma.

Club career

Leoni was born in Rome and moved to Padua at the age of 5. He began playing football with Vigontina before moving to Cittadella, and finished his youth development at Padova.[3] He made his senior and professional debut with Padova as a late substitute in a 3–2 Serie C win over AlbinoLeffe on 19 March 2023 at the age of 16 years and 3 months, making him the youngest professional footballer in Italy that season.[4] On 1 February 2024, he joined Sampdoria on loan until June 2026 with an option to buy for €1.5 million.[5]

On 25 June 2024, Leoni signed a three-year contract with Sampdoria.[6]

On 27 August 2024, Leoni moved to Parma in Serie A.[7]

International career

Leoni is a youth international for Italy, having been called up to the Italy U17s in March 2024.[8]

Playing style

A tall, strong and ambidextrous centre-back, Leoni can play as in the centre or right side of a three-man defense. He is very agile and skilled with his head. He is also a modern defender who is skilled in the build up game, and in covering spaces tactically.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Giovanni Leoni - Carriera - stagioni, presenze, goal - TuttoCalciatori.Net". www.tuttocalciatori.net.
  2. ^ https://www.parmacalcio1913.com/prima-squadra-maschile/giovanni-leoni
  3. ^ "Sampdoria, una forza da... Leoni! Le big sul difensore blucerchiato". 3 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Giovanni Leoni, il 2006 più giovane ad esordire tra i pro: "Ero teso, ma felice. I mister che ho avuto mi hanno insegnato molto"". Padova Calcio. 22 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Chi è Giovanni Leoni, il portafortuna di Pirlo che ha stregato Inter e Juventus". Calciomercato.com | Tutte le news sul calcio in tempo reale. 3 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Leoni rinnova in blucerchiato fino al 30 giugno 2027" [Leoni renews with Blucerchiato until June 30, 2027] (in Italian). Sampdoria. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  7. ^ "GIOVANNI LEONI È GIALLOBLU" [GIOVANNI LEONI IS YELLOW AND BLUE] (in Italian). Parma. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Buona la prima per gli Azzurrini a Merano: sconfitta 2-1 l'Austria. Franceschini: "Stiamo crescendo partita dopo partita"". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio. 21 March 2024.