Liverpool supporters have waited more than a year to see Giovanni Leoni back among his teammates, and that wait now appears close to ending.
The Italian centre back arrived from Parma in August 2025 for a fee of £26 million, signing a contract that runs until June 2031.
He had made 17 Serie A appearances for Parma the previous season, enough to persuade Liverpool to beat several rivals to his signature.
His first competitive outing could hardly have gone worse.
Handed a start in the Carabao Cup third round against Southampton on 23 September 2025, Leoni looked composed and assured until the 81st minute, when he landed awkwardly near the touchline.
Scans later confirmed a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, and he has not played since.
Rather than return home to Italy for his rehabilitation, Leoni chose to remain at the AXA Training Centre.
He used the time to improve his English, deepen his understanding of the club and add considerable muscle in the gym.
Former head coach Arne Slot even said earlier this year that the youngster was becoming “a beast”.
So when will he be back on the grass with the first team?
According to Gregg Evans of The Athletic, Leoni is expected to return to full training in the week commencing 12 October.
That timing falls during the current international break and matches recent comments from Andoni Iraola, who suggested the defender would rejoin the group before club football resumes.
Liverpool will not rush him.
Evans reports that the EFL Trophy trip to Doncaster on 7 October comes too early, and that Under 21 matches may offer the best route back to match sharpness.
Football Insider has also reported that the club intend to ease him in gradually rather than throw him straight into the first team schedule.
There is good reason for that patience.
Liverpool face 10 matches in 28 days once the break ends, but their defensive options are healthy.
Jeremy Jacquet has settled well on the right side of central defence next to Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez is available again, and Ronald Araujo has been used as a makeshift right back during his loan from Barcelona.
The bigger picture is what makes Leoni’s return so significant.
Van Dijk and Gomez are both out of contract at the end of the season, and the club have built a young core around Leoni, Jacquet, Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye.
Standing 6ft 5in, strong in the air and quick across the ground, Leoni fits the profile of defender Iraola favours.
The manager tried to bring him to Bournemouth before Liverpool moved first.
Still only 19, Leoni has time on his side.
After a year of frustration, Liverpool finally have reason to look forward.
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