Parma rejected Newcastle’s offer for Leoni ‘higher’ than Liverpool’s

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Lorenzo Bettoni | Last updated Sep 6, 2025 5:32 AM ET

Parma director Federico Cherubini reveals the Ducali rejected a Newcastle offer higher than the one from Liverpool for Giovanni Leoni this summer.

Italian talent Leoni joined Liverpool for circa €35m plus add-ons in the summer transfer window, but the Ducali director revealed that Newcastle had made an even higher offer for the 18-year-old centre-back.

Parma rejected Newcastle offer for Leoni

“We rejected an offer from Newcastle, even higher than the one from Liverpool,” Cherubini told Gazzetta di Parma via Sportmediaset.

“When the Reds knocked, it all changed as the player showed desire to join their project.”

Many other clubs had been linked with a move for Leoni during the summer transfer window, including Juventus, Inter and Milan in Serie A.

Leoni waiting for Liverpool debut

Leoni has yet to make his Liverpool debut, but received his first senior Italy call-up during the September break.

The promising defender scored one goal in 17 appearances in his first and only season in Serie A last term.

Leoni was not even on the bench for Gattuso’s debut as Italy head coach against Estonia on Friday, but remains available for the upcoming World Cup qualifying fixture against Israel on Monday, September 8.

Leoni has signed a contract until June 2031 at Anfield

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: