Liverpool’s promising young defender Giovanni Leoni will be sidelined for up to a year after suffering a serious knee injury on his debut for the club.
The 18-year-old tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the Carabao Cup third-round tie against Southampton on Tuesday night, manager Arne Slot confirmed.
The setback occurred just 81 minutes into what was supposed to be a landmark evening for the teenager, who joined Liverpool from Parma in August for £26m plus add-ons.
“He is not in a good place because he tore his ACL, which means he will be out for a year,” Slot told reporters. “Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game, it’s very hard to take the positives.
“There is never a positive side to this sort of injury, but if you look at it, he is still very young and he has many years ahead of him. That is what we must hold on to.”
Cruel End to a Bright Start
Leoni had impressed on his first Liverpool outing, showing composure and strength at the back before being forced off the field after lengthy treatment from the medical team. The defender looked devastated as he was helped away, aware that a lengthy rehabilitation lay ahead.
His signing was seen as both a reinforcement for the present and an investment for the future, with Liverpool needing depth after selling academy graduate Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
At just 18, Leoni had already shown maturity beyond his years. He made his professional debut for Padova in Italy’s third tier as a 16-year-old before breaking into Parma’s starting XI last season. Liverpool’s scouts were convinced his mix of anticipation, aerial ability and calmness in possession would translate to the Premier League.
His admiration for Virgil van Dijk, whom he has called his “inspiration,” was a major factor in his decision to move to Merseyside. The chance to learn alongside the Dutchman seemed like the ideal step in his development.
Defensive Concerns for Slot
The injury reduces Liverpool’s centre-back options to three established choices: Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Gomez. It places extra strain on a squad already balancing Premier League commitments with Champions League ambitions.
Leoni’s absence has forced Liverpool to adjust their European squad list, with new forward signing Federico Chiesa added in his place. While this strengthens attacking depth, the back line now looks worryingly thin.
Liverpool have started the season strongly, winning all five of their Premier League matches in defence of their title. They face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday, aiming to maintain their perfect start.
Still, Slot admitted that losing a player he intended to develop carefully this season is a significant blow. “Giovanni was not expected to play every game, but he was going to be part of the process,” the Dutchman said. “We wanted him to grow with us.”
A Promising Career Paused
For Leoni himself, the timing could not be worse. Having only established himself as a first-team regular at Parma in the second half of last season, the move to Liverpool represented a meteoric rise.
Sophie Brown, a BBC Sport journalist, described the situation as “a cruel blow for an exciting talent.” She added: “Leoni looked every bit the prospect Liverpool fans were promised before his terrible injury cut his debut short.”
The teenager will now embark on the long and demanding road back from an ACL injury, one of the most feared setbacks in football due to its physical and psychological challenges. Recovery typically requires surgery followed by months of rehabilitation and conditioning before a player can safely return to elite competition.
Liverpool’s medical team will be tasked with guiding Leoni through the process, while teammates and staff rally around him. Slot stressed that the club’s support network is prepared to ensure the young defender does not feel isolated during his rehabilitation.
Looking Ahead
For now, Liverpool must adapt without Leoni, while the player himself faces the challenge of proving he can return stronger. At 18, he has time on his side, and his character and determination will be critical as he looks to overcome this setback.
Liverpool fans will hope that this pause in his development proves temporary, and that next year the £26m signing will be able to resume his journey toward fulfilling his immense potential at Anfield.
