Liverpool’s £26m man left out of senior Premier League squad | OneFootball

Liverpool Confirm Premier League Squad with Chiesa and Leoni Developments

Chiesa among additions to Arne Slot’s selection

Liverpool have finalised their Premier League squad for the first half of the season, with Federico Chiesa included after missing out on Arne Slot’s Champions League group. The Italian forward is joined by Rhys Williams, Calvin Ramsay and Fabian Mrozek, who also step into the domestic roster.

Their registrations come at the expense of Rio Ngumoha and Giovanni Leoni, both of whom were named in the European pool but excluded from the 25-man list for league action.

Photo @LFC on X

Leoni’s position within the squad structure

Leoni, signed for £26 million in the summer, remains central to Liverpool’s long-term plans. The 18-year-old centre-back qualifies as an under-21 player, meaning he is eligible to feature in Premier League fixtures despite not being formally registered in the senior squad.

UEFA’s registration rules prevented him from being placed on ‘List B’ for European competition, as players must have been at their club for at least two years to qualify. That distinction explains his absence from both lists, yet his availability for domestic matches remains unaffected.

Liverpool staff are understood to be encouraged by Leoni’s adaptation since his arrival at Anfield. He has trained regularly with the first team and is viewed as a player who could push for appearances across the season.

Homegrown quota considerations

Williams and Mrozek have been added to Liverpool’s quota of homegrown talent, joining Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones and Freddie Woodman. That leaves one homegrown slot open, which might have been filled by Marc Guehi had Crystal Palace not halted his proposed move to Merseyside late in the window.

Chiesa and Ramsay occupy the final two of Liverpool’s 17 overseas player slots, further balancing Slot’s group for the months ahead.

Slot reflects on missed transfer opportunity

Liverpool’s head coach admitted on Friday that the club were close to signing Guehi before the deal fell through. He said:

With Guehi staying at Crystal Palace and Leoni still bedding into English football, Liverpool’s defensive resources carry both promise and risk. Slot’s choices highlight an emphasis on ensuring balance between experience, youth development and the strict regulations that govern squad registration across different competitions.