Federico Chiesa scored in Liverpool's first pre-season friendly under new manager Andoni Iraola, then told reporters he was 'happy' at the club – but his words carried a weight of frustration after two seasons spent mostly on the bench.
Chiesa, a 28-year-old Italian forward, joined Liverpool from Juventus in 2024 for £12.5m. He has two years left on his contract and has made 50 appearances for the club, but started only one Premier League game. Under former manager Arne Slot, who was sacked in May 2026 after a disappointing season, Chiesa struggled for minutes. He told La Gazzetta dello Sport in June that if he couldn't find consistency in the Premier League, he would have to look elsewhere. Now, with Iraola in charge, he sees a 'new chapter' – but also admitted there have been 'too many fresh starts'.
“Federico Chiesa's future at Liverpool under new manager Andoni Iraola, after two frustrating seasons.”
Chiesa's lack of game time came despite Liverpool's attacking injury problems last season, which left the club 'lucky' to finish fifth and qualify for the Champions League, as he himself said. He made 36 appearances under Slot but only five were starts, and his last start came in the FA Cup fourth-round in February 2026. The forward feels he was ready for a bigger role but was not chosen by the previous manager.
For UK readers, Chiesa's situation matters because it reflects a wider issue at Liverpool: the challenge of integrating expensive signings into a squad with high expectations. Liverpool fans have seen Chiesa's talent in flashes – he scored five goals in all competitions – but have not seen the player who starred for Italy at Euro 2020. With Iraola now in charge, there is renewed hope that Chiesa can become a regular contributor, especially as he is being used as a striker rather than a winger. His future also affects Liverpool's transfer plans: if he stays and impresses, the club may not need to sign another forward; if he leaves, they may need to enter the market.
Q: Will Federico Chiesa leave Liverpool this summer? Chiesa has said he is not thinking about a transfer and wants to prove himself to Andoni Iraola. However, Italian clubs Como and his former club Juventus have been linked with a move. His immediate priority is to earn playing time under the new manager.
Q: What role is Chiesa playing under new manager Andoni Iraola? Iraola has deployed Chiesa as a central striker in pre-season, rather than on the wing where he often played under Arne Slot. Chiesa confirmed the new role, saying 'He put me striker today and he wants me there.'
Q: Why did Chiesa struggle so much under Arne Slot? Chiesa made only one Premier League start under Slot despite a lack of depth in attack. He said he felt ready for a bigger role but the manager had his own gameplans. Slot was sacked in May 2026 after finishing fifth in the league.
What happens next depends on how Iraola uses Chiesa in the coming weeks. Liverpool have two years remaining on his contract, giving the club some leverage. If Chiesa impresses in pre-season friendlies, he could earn a starting spot when the Premier League season begins. If not, a return to Italy remains a possibility before the transfer window closes.