Federico Chiesa set to leave Liverpool this summer with Serie A return likely

Federico Chiesa is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, with a return to Serie A emerging as the most likely destination for the Italy forward, according to well-connected Liverpool reporter David Lynch.

Chiesa arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2024 as the only senior signing of Arne Slot’s debut campaign — a season that ended with Liverpool lifting the Premier League title. Despite the collective success, the 28-year-old struggled badly for playing time, managing just nine starts across 50 appearances in all competitions and contributing only five goals. His most notable contributions came in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle and the opening-day win over Bournemouth.

Speaking to Anfield Index, Lynch said a departure is now a foregone conclusion. “He’ll go [in the summer] and I think he’ll always be remembered quite warmly by Liverpool fans as he always tried his best, really well liked around the place as well for his personality, being a good guy, but it’s just not worked out for him.”

Chiesa himself has been candid about his frustration. In a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, he said: “If I don’t find consistency in the Premier League, I’ll have to look elsewhere. I barely played in my first year at Liverpool, and in the last one, very little. I’ll go on a training camp in the US, then I’ll talk to the club and the new manager, Iraola, and we’ll see.”

The forward has indicated he plans to seek clarity from incoming head coach Andoni Iraola following Liverpool’s pre-season tour of North America at the end of July, though Lynch’s assessment suggests the outcome of those conversations is already effectively settled.

A return to Italy has been on the cards since at least January, when reports emerged that Juventus — the club where Chiesa spent four seasons before his move to Merseyside — were exploring a deal to re-sign him. That move did not materialise in the winter window. Chiesa first made his name at Fiorentina, where his father Enrico Chiesa also played, and a return to Serie A would represent a familiar environment for a player looking to rebuild his career.