FEDERICO CHIESA WILL WEAR NO 14 FOR LIVERPOOL

Liverpool have announced the signing of Italian winger Federico Chiesa from Juventus for just £10m.

The 26-year-old forward has completed a medical and finalized a long-term deal – and has now joined the Reds squad.

Chiesa, who has 51 caps for Italy and was part of their squad for Euro 2024, will arrive after four seasons and 131 appearances with Juventus.

Federico Chiesa was very influential in winning the 2021 Euro Championship for Italy. He also had two goals in that tournament.

Chiesa, whose father, Enrico, scored for Italy at Anfield during Euro 96, has signed a four-year deal and could feature at Manchester United on Sunday. The 26-year-old was in the last year of his contract at Juventus and was not part of head coach Thiago Motta’s plans, leaving the forward to search for a new club.

When the Italy international flew over the ground on the way for his medical, he asked his wife to play You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Chiesa spoke with Liverpoolfc.com 

“I just want to say something that stuck to my mind when I was about to land (in) the aeroplane,

I saw Anfield, and as soon as I saw Anfield I said to my wife: Put the song on (You’ll Never Walk Alone) because I want to imagine myself playing there and hearing the chant of the fans. It was just a fun bit. I will have shivers [when I play there], and it will be so emotional for me and for my family.”

“I’m so happy to be a Liverpool player. When 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, I know what it represents to the fans … I felt the people I talked to put a lot of faith and trust in me, and that is what I wanted.”

The former Fiorentina player, who will wear the No 14 shirt, becomes the first outfield player to sign under Arne Slot after the goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. His first involvement in a competitive match in a Liverpool shirt will be in the legendary Rivalry of England – Manchester United vs Liverpool.