Federico Chiesa joined Liverpool in the summer of 2024 with a promise of reinvention.
The Italy international had been deemed surplus to requirements by Juventus after Thiago Motta replaced Massimiliano Allegri, and arrived at Anfield for an initial fee of £10 million as a player with something to prove.
Two years on, that reinvention has not materialised.
Under former manager Arne Slot, Chiesa managed just 14 appearances across all competitions in his debut season, scoring twice.
He carried his contract, worth around €7 million net per season through to 2028 into the new campaign under Andoni Iraola, but has yet to feature.
A muscle injury ruled him out from the start of 2026-27, and he has not returned to first-team action since appearing in pre-season.
His absence has been compounded by the arrivals of Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz, signings that have pushed Chiesa further down the attacking pecking order.
Even before his injury, his path to regular minutes at Anfield looked narrow. Now, with the club’s European squad confirmed, that path has narrowed further still.
Iraola left Chiesa out of Liverpool’s 25-man Champions League squad for the league phase of 2026-27, naming him alongside Wataru Endo among the notable omissions.
It is the second consecutive season in which Chiesa has been excluded from Liverpool’s European roster. Last year, he was added only after Giovanni Leoni suffered a cruciate ligament injury.
This time, there is no such route back in.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, speaking on The Overlap, was blunt about the situation.
“Liverpool have got two players in the squad who are never going to play,” he said. “They have got Chiesa and Endo. It’s like they are never going to kick a ball.”
According to Calciomercato, Liverpool’s position is becoming increasingly firm.
The Italian outlet reports that the club will put Chiesa on the market in January, with a minimum sale target of €15 million.
The winger’s desire to play regularly is a driving factor, he has not appeared for the Italy national team since the 2024 European Championship and wants to force his way back into the picture under Roberto Mancini, who returned for a second spell as Italy head coach in July 2026.
Interest from Serie A has been noted. Napoli and Inter have both monitored his situation, according to Calciomercato.
However, any potential suitor will need to factor in his wage demands, with net per considered to be a complication in negotiations with Italian clubs.
Across two seasons at Anfield, Federico Chiesa has scored five goals in 50 appearances in all competitions.
Given the trajectory under Iraola, January is likely to represent his final opportunity for a clean break for both player and club.
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