Liverpool FC’s Giovanni Leoni has been named of the 25-man shortlist for the prestigious Golden Boy Award, the prize given by sports journalists to young footballers under 21 playing in Europe perceived to have been the most impressive during a calendar year.
The 18 year-old defender made 17 appearances, 1205 minutes including a standout performance where he shut down veteran striker Romelu Lukaku, for Parma to qualify for the award. Those appearances eventually earned him his move to Liverpool in the summer, as the Reds saw an opening to nab one of the world’s most promising defenders for an initial fee of £26m.
Unfortunately, as we know now, Leoni suffered an ACL injury in his debut against Southampton in the League Cup. He is expected to miss the rest of the season, and may not return until late 2026 or early 2027. Let’s hope he can have a smooth recovery and build on his progress when does return.
