Giovanni Leoni

Leoni made his professional debut remarkably early and has kept climbing through Italian football ever since, moving up through the divisions until Parma trusted him in Serie A. He defends by getting his body between the striker and the goal, winning the physical battle rather than relying purely on positioning. His aerial ability already looks like the finished article, even while other parts of his defending are still developing.

Leoni names Van Dijk as the defender he grew up watching, and there is an obvious symmetry in a teenager with that specific inspiration now learning inside the same dressing room. The challenge for any centre back this young is adjusting to the pace and physicality of Premier League forwards, sharper than most he faced in Italian youth football. Watch how he copes with a striker who drops deep to drag him out of position.