Liverpool sign Italy international Federico Chiesa from Juventus
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Italy's Federico Chiesa battling against Switzerland in their Euro 2024 last-16 clash.
REUTERS
Follow topic:
LONDON – There were no questions asked from Federico Chiesa when the opportunity to join English Premier League giants Liverpool was presented to the Italian forward.
On Aug 29, the move was confirmed as the Reds signed the 26-year-old from Italian Serie A side Juventus on a four-year contract, the two clubs announced.
“I’m so happy to be a Liverpool player,” said Chiesa, whose contract with Juve was set to expire in 2025. “When (sporting director) Richard Hughes called me and he said ‘Do you want to join Liverpool?’ and the coach called me... I said ‘yes’ immediately because I know the history of this club and what it represents to the fans.”
The deal is an initial £10 million (S$17.2 million) with a further £2.5 million dependent on the team’s performance during Chiesa’s time at Anfield.
The forward suffered a serious knee injury in 2022 that sidelined him for 10 months, but he bounced back and last season scored 10 goals and registered three assists in 37 appearances for Juve across all competitions.
In total, he scored 32 goals in 131 appearances across four seasons.
Chiesa has also scored seven goals in 51 caps for Italy. He was a part of their Euro 2020 title-winning side and also played in the 2024 edition.
He becomes Liverpool’s first acquisition in this transfer window and also the first signing of the Arne Slot era. “I can’t wait to get started,” he added.
His arrival adds even more depth to a Liverpool frontline boasting Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo.
While the Italian is looking forward to a brand new start at Anfield, Salah has said he is not focused on his future beyond this season, with less than a year to run on his contract at Liverpool.
The Egyptian has written himself into the record books of the English giants, scoring 213 goals since joining in 2017.
He is just one of three crucial players for Liverpool who are out of contract at the end of the season, along with captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“Before the season, I was just like ‘I’ve got one year left, let’s just enjoy it and don’t think about the contract’,” Salah said.
“I don’t want to think about next year or the future, I want to enjoy the last year and let’s see. The most important thing is to take one day at a time.”
The 32-year-old has been consistently linked with a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League.
Salah has scored in both of Slot’s first two Premier League games in charge as Liverpool beat Ipswich Town and Brentford. They next take on rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sept 1.
The Red Devils have had a busy transfer window, signing forward Joshua Zirkzee, defenders Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt. They are also set to confirm midfielder Manuel Ugarte’s move from Paris Saint-Germain. AFP, REUTERS
