CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's unused players Stefan Bajcetic (L) and Giovanni Leoni during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's unused players Stefan Bajcetic (L) and Giovanni Leoni during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool hope to have Giovanni Leoni available for selection in September, with the centre-back finally seeing “the light at the end of the tunnel” after his ACL tear.
Leoni travelled with the senior squad to the United States last month but did not join any training sessions, instead he focused on individual running and ball work.
The 19-year-old hit the 10-month mark since sustaining his serious knee injury while across the Atlantic, with the centre-back not yet ready to join full training.
According to the Athletic, sources close to the club hope he can rejoin first-team training before the end of the month in view of being available in September.
There has been “no specific timeframe” placed on Leoni’s return, but a senior comeback next month could see the Carabao Cup emerge as a timely fixture.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 23, 2025: Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni pulls on Southampton Joshua Quarshie's shirt whilst challenged by Southampton’s Ronnie Edwards during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 23, 2025: Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni pulls on Southampton Joshua Quarshie's shirt whilst challenged by Southampton’s Ronnie Edwards during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool will play their third-round tie on September 15/16 due to Champions League commitments the week prior, which would act as a less pressurised return for Leoni.
It was, of course, the same competition that saw the Italian make his debut and be forced off with the ACL injury last year.
The club will not rush the teenager back into action due to the nature of his long-term injury, but his presence will eventually be a boost to Iraola.
Liverpool’s head coach had previously tried to sign the defender while at Bournemouth, appealing to the qualities he wants at the back, including strength and confidence on the ball.
Virgil van Dijk, however, is currently the only fit and available centre-back, with Joe Gomez injured and Jeremy Jacquet still being managed after feeling the intensity on return from his shoulder injury.
Worrisome reports emerged this week over Liverpool not actively pursuing reinforcements in defence, even though Iraola voiced concerns over how “thin” he is in the department.
Giovanni Leoni: ‘I can be back with the team in a short time’
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool players (L-R) Stefan Bajcetic, Giovanni Leoni, Freddie Woodman, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, Wataru End? and Hugo Ekitike before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Leoni, who improved his English and took the time to develop closer bonds at the club during his injury rehabilitation, can now see the end in sight and is feeling “really good.”
“Now I feel really good,” Leoni told the club’s official website. “After 10 months, I’m back on the pitch alone. But I feel really good, in the last weeks I felt really good on the pitch.
“The knee is looking good and I’m feeling the knee really good, so I can’t wait to be back with the team as soon as possible and then come back to play games in front of the fans.
“Now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m not with the team, but I think in a short time now I can be back with the team.
“Then we will see how the knee will respond and how I will feel to be back playing games.”
He added: “To be back playing in front of everyone, in front of the world, I’ll be a little bit nervous, but it will be a [type of] nervous that will help me. It will be more excited than nervous.”
Mo Salah (2)
Mo Salah (2)
Paris, France. 17th May, 2026. Ibrahim Mbaye on the final day of the McDonald’s Ligue 1 season at the Stade Jean Bouin between PSG and Paris FC, on 17 May 2026 – 17/05/2026 – France/Ile-de-France (region)/Paris – Julien Mattia/Le Pictorium Credit: LE PICT
Paris, France. 17th May, 2026. Ibrahim Mbaye on the final day of the McDonald’s Ligue 1 season at the Stade Jean Bouin between PSG and Paris FC, on 17 May 2026 – 17/05/2026 – France/Ile-de-France (region)/Paris – Julien Mattia/Le Pictorium Credit: LE PICT
Football – Pre-Season – Liverpool USA Tour Day 6 – Liverpool FC v Sunderland AFC
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the pre-match warm-up before a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)