Leoni’s Liverpool return remains on hold as training target nears
The defender is expected to miss Liverpool’s next two matches, with first-team training planned during the upcoming international break.
Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni is not expected to feature in the club’s next two matches before the upcoming international break, according to head coach Andoni Iraola.
Iraola told Yahoo Sports that Leoni is progressing ahead of fellow long-term absentee Conor Bradley, but still requires more time before returning to competitive action.
The club expects Leoni to resume training with Liverpool’s first-team group during the September–October international break. No playing return date has been confirmed, and it remains unclear whether the training involvement will be full or gradual.
Leoni suffered a cruciate ligament injury on his Liverpool debut against Southampton in an EFL Cup third-round match on 23 September 2025. His recovery was initially expected to take about nine months but has extended beyond that timeframe.
Leoni joined Liverpool from Parma in a reported deal worth €35 million plus bonuses. His expected absence from the next two matches leaves the club without a confirmed timetable for his return to matchday selection.
