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EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal overtake Man Utd in race for Giovanni Leoni
Steve Kay
- Updated: 31 May 2025 11:08 CDT
- 5 min read
Exclusive
Arsenal have moved ahead of Manchester United in the race to sign highly-rated Italian centre-back Giovanni Leoni, FootballTransfers understands.
The Gunners, who are in the market for a promising young defender in the mould of Gabriel Magalhaes and Jakub Kiwior, have intensified their pursuit of the 18-year-old Parma talent, with sporting director Andrea Berta leading talks.
Arsenal had also shown interest in Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen prior to his move to Real Madrid and recently made enquiries about Valencia’s Yarek Gasiorowski, as exclusively revealed by FootballTransfers.
Current ETV
Giovanni Leoni
D (CR)
Parma
Giovanni Leoni
D (CR)
Parma
ETV Range
€10.4M - €12.7M
However, it is Leoni who has now emerged as a top defensive target for the North London club. We are told that Man Utd continue to monitor the situation, but Arsenal’s swift move could prove decisive in securing one of Europe’s most promising defensive prospects.
Due to his performances this season, Leoni has naturally also emerged on the radar of Serie A's biggest clubs such as Juventus and Inter, as reported by Tuttosport.
Who is Giovanni Leoni?
Leoni burst onto the scene in Serie A this term and is now regarded as one of Italy’s most exciting defensive prospects. The teenager stole the show when Parma secured a 1-0 victory over Juventus in April, with the Bianconeri reportedly coming away from the match mightily impressed.
In his first top-flight campaign, Leoni made 17 appearances and scored once, showcasing his aerial ability, composure on the ball and positional intelligence. His rapid development has seen him feature for Italy’s U18 and U19 national sides.
In 2023, Leoni made his professional debut for Padova in Serie C aged just 16. He later caught the eye during a loan spell at Sampdoria in early 2024, making 12 appearances under then-manager Andrea Pirlo and scoring once in Serie B.
His performances earned him a permanent move to Parma last summer, with the iconic club fending off interest from several Serie A rivals to secure Leoni's arrival. He could once again be on the move this summer.
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