Top transfer complete: This is FCS's new hopeful

FC Südtirol is going through a difficult time. However, the Red and Whites have now pulled off a transfer coup that gives them a lot of hope.

02 January 2026

From: det

On December 23rd, FC Südtirol gave themselves an early Christmas present and announced that Simone Verdi will be signed in the upcoming transfer period. The transfer window has now opened – and the signing of the former international player is complete. The club announced this in a press release.

FC Saarbrücken has a new source of hope. Verdi has played no fewer than 240 Serie A matches in his career, wearing the jerseys of Hellas Verona, Milan, Napoli, and Torino. Between 2017 and 2018, the 33-year-old Italian also played for the Italian national team. Now, the attacking player is expected to help FC Saarbrücken out of their predicament – namely, the relegation zone – and lead them to safety in Serie B.

The career

Verdi was born on July 12, 1992, in Broni (Province of Pavia) and began his football career in the youth academy of Audax Travacò. At the age of eleven, he moved to the renowned youth academy of AC Milan, where he progressed through all the youth teams up to the "Primavera" (first team). He made his professional debut for the "Rossoneri" at the age of 17 in the Italian Cup against Novara.

In the summer of 2011, Torino acquired his playing rights. With the "Granata," Verdi completed his first full professional season in Serie B and subsequently made his first appearances in Serie A. In the winter of 2013, he moved on loan to Juve Stabia in Serie B, before joining Empoli in Serie B for the 2013/14 season – also on loan. With the Tuscan club, he achieved promotion to Serie A, where he established himself in the following season.

Simone Verdi (right) in the Napoli jersey. © ANSA / SIMONE ARVEDA

In the summer of 2015, the joint ownership of his transfer rights between FC Torino and AC Milan was dissolved in favor of the Rossoneri. Verdi then moved on loan to Spanish first division club Eibar before playing the second half of the 2015/16 season in Serie A for Carpi under coach Fabrizio Castori.

At the start of the 2016/17 season, Bologna acquired Verdi's playing rights. There, he completed two extremely strong seasons in Serie A, scoring ten goals and providing ten assists in his second season. During this time, he also gained a call-up to the Italian national team, for which he made a total of four appearances between March 2017 and June 2018.

He played in the Champions League

Verdi's impressive performances in Bologna paved the way for his move to SSC Napoli, with whom he also made his Champions League debut in the 2018/19 season. The following season, the attacking midfielder returned to FC Torino on loan, before the club finally signed him permanently in September 2020.

In the winter of 2022, Verdi moved to Salernitana on loan, where his five goals were instrumental in securing their survival in Serie A. The following season, while on loan at Hellas Verona, he again played a crucial role in their survival with five goals.

Simone Verdi will play for FC Südtirol in the future. © AFP / ANDREAS SOLARO

At the start of the 2023/24 season, Verdi joined Como, then a Serie B club, where he helped them achieve their historic return to Serie A with eight goals and two assists. After nine top-flight appearances for the "Lariani," he moved to Sassuolo in the winter, where he celebrated his second consecutive promotion to Serie A.

In his football career so far, Verdi has made 241 appearances in Serie A, scoring 37 goals, and 115 appearances in the 2nd division with 15 goals.

Keywords Soccer FC Sudtirol Serie B