Federico Chiesa faces a big decision over his future at Liverpool this summer
Federico Chiesa faces a big decision over his future at Liverpool this summer
came to Liverpool to win, and that he did, playing a supporting role in the Reds’ historic 20th league title triumph.
Now, the Italy international finds himself at a significant crossroads in his career as he weighs up whether to seek a move away from Anfield or stay and fight for more minutes next season. What transpires this summer remains to be seen, but it certainly won’t be an easy decision for Chiesa.
Liverpool secured the 27-year-old for a relatively modest fee from Juventus last summer, marking the club’s only major signing ahead of Arne Slot’s first season in charge. Yet, for a number of reasons, Chiesa has struggled to establish himself - failing to secure a regular starting role or even consistent minutes off the bench over the course of the campaign.
Part of that has been down to Slot’s preference for a settled XI. Part of it stems from the intense competition for places - particularly with Mohamed Salah, who is rarely unavailable, occupying the right flank. Chiesa also arrived late in the summer window, without the benefit of a pre-season, after being informed he was not part of then-Juventus manager Thiago Motta’s plans.
In truth, the odds were arguably stacked against him from the start. Arriving without a pre-season, joining one of the most physically demanding leagues in the world, and needing to adapt to a new system, all made his transition difficult. The fact that rumours of an exit surfaced as early as January, just months into his time at the club, only underlines how frustrating his situation has been.
Now that the summer transfer window is open, talk of a return to Italy hasn’t gone away. Chiesa himself has admitted that discussions are ongoing and a decision will be made this summer regarding what’s best for his future - though he did also say he could envisage staying at Liverpool.
However, the latest update from journalist Fabrizio Romano suggests Chiesa may be leaning towards a move back to Serie A. It’s difficult to blame him; he may not see a realistic pathway into Liverpool’s starting XI, especially following the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen. Still, there’s arguably more to consider.
It would be a real shame to see a player as talented - and as universally loved - as Chiesa walk away after just one year in a red shirt. His famous song became a soundtrack to Liverpool’s title-winning campaign, and it’s one the fans would loath to lose.
Unfortunately, Chiesa’s decision is unlikely to hinge on how adored he is by supporters, despite him often expressing gratitude for their backing. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, regular minutes will understandably be front of mind, especially with the risk of missing out on a squad place if game time remains limited.
That risk may have grown even more evident on Friday evening when Italy were dismantled 3-0 by Norway in their World Cup qualifying opener. While it was just their first game of the campaign and they remain favourites to qualify, Norway have positioned themselves comfortably at the top of the group - albeit having played two games more. Still, the warning signs are there, and Italy may yet face a play-off route if results don’t go their way.
Chiesa will no doubt hold thorough discussions with Slot before making a final decision, as he seeks clarity on whether he features in the manager’s plans. But it could serve him well to bide his time, perhaps delaying any move until later in the window, or even until January, depending on how the first half of the season unfolds.
A full pre-season with Liverpool could give him the opportunity to reset and build the sharpness he lacked last year. With several new faces arriving, pre-season often provides a clean slate for players to impress, rather than playing catch-up once the campaign begins.
Whatever the outcome this summer, one thing is certain - Chiesa will always be loved on Merseyside.