Federico Chiesa has delivered his clearest statement yet on his Liverpool future.
Federico Chiesa has delivered his clearest statement yet on his Liverpool future, insisting he is happy at the club and determined to earn a bigger role under new head coach Andoni Iraola following two seasons largely spent on the periphery of the first team.
The Italian forward spoke to reporters after coming off the bench to score Liverpool’s third goal in their 4-2 friendly victory over Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday, and his words, reported by The Athletic’s James Pearce, left little room for ambiguity about where his head is at heading into the new campaign.
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“Right now, at the moment, I am happy here at Liverpool,” Chiesa said.
“I love the club, I love the fans, I love everything.”
“I am doing the best I can to have a chance here and then we will see.”
‘At the minute, the only thing I am thinking about is Liverpool.”
The declaration will come as welcome news to supporters who had grown accustomed to seeing the 28-year-old linked with a return to Serie A this summer.
Having joined Liverpool from Juventus in August 2024 for an initial fee of 12.5 million pounds, Chiesa’s time at Anfield under Arne Slot was defined more by frustration than fulfillment.
He made just nine starts across Slot’s two-year reign and averaged barely 12 minutes per Premier League appearance in 2025-26, a return that fell well short of the influence a player of his calibre is capable of providing.
But Chiesa is not dwelling on the past.
He views Iraola’s arrival as a genuine opportunity to redefine his Liverpool career, describing it simply as a new chapter.
He acknowledged that his role last season depended entirely on the decisions of the manager, and he has nothing but respect for the choices Slot made.
Now, however, his focus is entirely on showing Iraola what he can offer.
His performance in Nashville provided an early indication of what that might look like.
Iraola deployed him as a striker in the second half, a position Chiesa has not regularly occupied throughout a career built on the wing, and the Italian embraced the instruction without hesitation.
His goal was a fitting reward for a display that showed the intensity and directness Iraola demands from his players.
The broader context matters too.
Liverpool finished fifth last season, a result Chiesa described plainly as not good enough for a club of their stature.
Having been Premier League champions two seasons earlier, the Italian believes the squad is capable of a significant response and is determined to be part of it.
His 50 Liverpool appearances, five goals, and a Premier League winners medal from 2024-25 represent a foundation rather than a ceiling.
If Iraola gives him the consistent minutes he craved under Slot, Federico Chiesa intends to prove what Liverpool have been missing.
Federico Chiesa