Virgil van Dijk suggests when Giovanni Leoni should finally be back in Liverpool training

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Virgil van Dijk says Giovanni Leoni is closing in on a return to Liverpool training after missing a full year of football.The Italian picked up a nasty knee injury during the Carabao Cup win over Southampton on September 23rd 2025, and despite suggestions over the summer that he would be back on the AXA Training Centre pitches in late August, that is yet to materialise.Speaking after Liverpool‘s Champions League win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, however, Van Dijk was asked about Leoni, and hinted that he is finally set to be available very soon. Photo Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC/Jan Jruger Van Dijk says Leoni ‘isn’t far off’ a returnHad Leoni not sustained such a bad injury last year, he could well be Van Dijk’s starting centre-back partner right now.Instead, he has become something of a forgotten man, and it remains to be seen exactly how much football he ultimately plays this season.Van Dijk looked slightly surprised to be asked about Leoni while stopping in the mixed zone on Wednesday evening, but spoke warmly about the 19-year-old when confirming that he ‘isn’t far off.’“I speak to him whenever he wants, I’m here always and I obviously see his progress, he’s not too far off anymore which is great to see,” said the Liverpool captain.

I’m pretty confident he’s going to do well. He’s a good boy and I like him.”While Leoni has been out, Jeremy Jacquet has stepped up to become the main partner for Van Dijk so far this season.

And the Dutchman also took time out to praise Liverpool’s new No.5, saying it was ‘so far so good’ for Jacquet.“He’s a young guy but obviously he’s doing very well,” Van Dijk said. Whether it’s Ronald [Araujo] who comes at centre-back, or Jeremy starting or Joe Gomez who’s coming back, everyone has to chip in and be important for the team and that’s what we work on as well.”It sounds as though Leoni will be able to add himself to that list in the very near future, but until he is back out there on the training pitches, concern will remain at just how long the teenager has missed.