Liverpool have completed the signing of Italy international Federico Chiesa from Juventus, the club announced on Thursday.
The Reds on Wednesday agreed a deal worth €13 million with the Old Lady, and Chiesa, who has signed a four-year contract, will don the iconic number 14 jersey during his stay at Anfield.
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— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 29, 2024
“Yeah, it has actually,” Chiesa said when talking to Liverpool media about the importance of the number.
“It’s the number I’ve been wearing with the national team but it was an easy pick because Liverpool sent me a video and at the end of this video – which was showing my career [and] the goals I scored with Fiorentina and Juventus – it was me with the No.14 shirt on so I said, ‘Ah, it was destined to be!’, so I chose the No.14.”
The Italian succeeds former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who played 12 seasons for the Merseyside club before he departed last year, as the new recipient of the No. 14 shirt.
Other notable names to have worn the shirt include legendary midfielder and current Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, Milan Jovanovic, Vegard Heggem, Neil Ruddock, and Jan Molby.
Chiesa scored 32 goals in 131 appearances for Juventus, including 10 goals in 37 matches last season, winning three titles, including two Coppa Italia trophies. He played 51 times for Italy’s Azzurri and was part of their Euro 2024 squad.
On joining Liverpool, Chiesa said: “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.
“So, I’m so happy and I can’t wait to get started.”
The former Fiorentina forward will be hoping to make his club debut on Sunday, September 1, when Liverpool visit Old Trafford to take on Manchester United in the Premier League.
