Overview
- Manager Andoni Iraola confirmed on Thursday that Giovanni Leoni is now expected to join full first‑team training during the November international break, a roughly one‑month delay to the club’s previous plan.
- Leoni tore the anterior cruciate ligament on his Liverpool debut in September 2025 and subsequently had surgery before beginning a staged rehabilitation at the club.
- The 19‑year‑old has spent about a year working with Liverpool’s medical team at the AXA Training Centre and is said to be edging closer to team training rather than returning straight to matches.
- Liverpool medical staff say the injury involved several structures in the knee beyond the ACL, prompting the club to insist on careful progress to protect Leoni’s long‑term fitness and confidence.
- The delayed return affects Liverpool’s defensive depth in the short term and could influence Leoni’s path to regular minutes or potential loan or transfer interest from clubs monitoring his recovery.