Federico Chiesa very much seems to enjoy being a Liverpool player and Liverpool fans very much seem to enjoy Federico Chiesa. Still, it’s probably fair to say that after two years spent on Merseyside and having arrived from Juventus hoping to get his career back on track, the experience hasn’t exactly delivered on that front.
The now 28-year-old has struggled for fitness throughout his time at the club, something that has been an issue for the player ever since he ruptured his ACL back in 2022 with Juventus, and when he is fit it increasingly seems injuries and a general lack of playing time may have permanently stolen away the player he once was.
The end result has been Chiesa becoming something of a permanent mascot or cheerleader for the Reds, and if he is content with that situation it’s easy to see him playing out his contract making cup appearances. If it isn’t, though, he will need to move on. As to where, rumours out of Spain this week point to a potential option.
According to Caden SER in Valencia, at least, that city’s club have reached out to explore the possibility of signing Chiesa. They’re said to view the player as an exciting name that could fire up the fanbase ahead of the 2026-27 season for a side that has faded as a force in La Liga and spent much of the past decade stuck in mid-table.
It’s telling, perhaps, that even then Chiesa is framed less as a potential difference maker on the pitch and more as a recognizable name—someone to signal to their fans that Valencia do want to try to compete more than a player who can actually help them to do so. Still, in 2026 it might not get much better than that for Chiesa.
Liverpool and Cheisa both rolled the dice on a new club and a move to England might help him get back to his pre-ACL injury best. It hasn’t, and now two more years have ticked past in his career. Valencia at least might offer the likeable Italian forward a clearer path to playing time if he still dreams of turning things around.