Federico Chiesa Faces Fresh Liverpool Blow as Summer Exit Looms Large

Liverpool have excluded Italy international Federico Chiesa from their pre-season tour squad heading to Asia.

Chiesa represented Liverpool's sole major signing during the 2024 summer transfer window—a sharp difference from this season's unprecedented spending—but struggled with recurring fitness problems and couldn't establish himself in manager Arne Slot's plans.

The 27-year-old featured in only 14 matches throughout all competitions in 2024–25, with merely one starting appearance each in the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and won't participate in any additional summer activities after being omitted from Liverpool's pre-season roster.

This choice arrives during ongoing speculation about his future prospects at Anfield, though other attacking players in comparable situations, specifically Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez, have both secured places in the traveling party.

Why Federico Chiesa Has Been Left Out of Liverpool's Pre-Season Squad

Although many assume Chiesa will likely depart Liverpool this summer, multiple sources indicate his pre-season absence stems from another fitness concern.

The Liverpool ECHO reports that Chiesa, who found the net in a private friendly against Stoke City on Sunday, has been held back to evaluate what's characterized as a "minor issue". These physical setbacks have consistently marked Chiesa's time at Anfield.

However, a summer departure remains the anticipated result for Chiesa, who is drawing attention back in Serie A, where he established his reputation with Fiorentina before his expensive transfer to Juventus in 2022.

Chiesa told Corriere dello Sport earlier this summer that he "wouldn't mind" remaining at Liverpool, but several Italian clubs are believed to be pursuing his services. Fabrizio Romano suggests a Serie A return is Chiesa's primary objective this summer.