Luca D'Andrea (born 6 September 2004) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a right winger for Serie B club Sassuolo.

Luca D'Andrea
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-09-06) 6 September 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Naples, Italy
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, right winger
Team information
Current team
Sassuolo
Number 25
Youth career
0000 Ponticelli
0000 Mariano Keller
0000–2018 Scuola Calcio Azzurri
2018–2022 SPAL
2022 Sassuolo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Sassuolo 5 (0)
2023–2024Catanzaro (loan) 23 (0)
International career
2021–2022 Italy U18 8 (2)
2022–2023 Italy U19 10 (4)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Italy
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winner 2023 Malta
Mediterranean Games
Runner-up Oran 2022 U-18 Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:00, 7 July 2023 (UTC)

Club career

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Born in Naples, D'Andrea started playing football at the grassroots schools Ponticelli, Mariano Keller and Azzurri,[1][2][3] before entering SPAL's youth sector in 2018,[4][5] where he reached the semi-finals of the national under-17 championship in 2021.[2][6] Then, in January 2022, he joined Sassuolo, signing his first professional deal in the process.[1][2][6]

In the summer of the same year, he was officially promoted to the first team by manager Alessio Dionisi: he subsequently made his professional debut on 17 September, starting the Serie A match against Torino, which ended in a 0–1 win for his side.[5][7] In January 2023, he extended his contract with Sassuolo until 2027.[8]

On 1 August of the same year, D'Andrea joined newly-promoted Serie B club Catanzaro on a season-long loan.[9][10] On 27 August, having come on as a substitute in the second half of a league match against Ternana, he gained a penalty kick for his side in the 89th minute, which was scored by Jari Vandeputte and helped Catanzaro obtain a 2–1 win.[11]

International career

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D'Andrea has represented Italy at several youth international levels, having featured for the under-18 and under-19 national teams.[12][13]

He was included in the under-18 squad that took part in the 2022 Mediterranean Games in Oran,[14] as the Azzurrini eventually won the silver medal after losing to France (1–0) in the tournament's final match.[15]

In June 2023, he was included in the Italian squad for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Malta,[16] where the Azzurrini eventually won their second continental title.[17][18]

Style of play

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D'Andrea is a left-footed forward, who can play either as an attacking midfielder or an inverted winger on the right side.[4][5] A diminutive player, he has been mainly regarded for key skills such as technique, ball control, speed, dribbling and shooting, as well as his work rate.[4][19]

Career statistics

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As of match played 27 August 2023[20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sassuolo 2022–23 Serie A 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Catanzaro 2023–24 Serie B 1 0 2 0 0 0 3 0
Career total 6 0 2 0 0 0 8 0

Honours

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Italy U19

References

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  1. ^ a b Boscagli, Gabriele (2 February 2022). "Calciomercato Sassuolo: Luca D'Andrea ha firmato un contratto da professionista". Canale Sassuolo (in Italian). Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Rossoni, Stefano (15 August 2022). "Luca D'Andrea, una nuova pedina per l'attacco di Dionisi". La Giovane Italia News (in Italian). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Chi è Luca D'Andrea, il 2004 titolare in Torino-Sassuolo che ha "vinto alla lotteria"". Gianluca Di Marzio (in Italian). 18 September 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Luca D'Andrea, il mancino diabolico della Spal Under 17". La Giovane Italia (in Italian). 6 October 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Torrisi, Antonio (17 September 2022). ""Calma, calma", dalla SPAL al Sassuolo: D'Andrea, il classe 2004 schierato da Dionisi contro il Torino". Goal.com. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b Boscagli, Gabriele (31 January 2022). "ESCLUSIVA CS – Sassuolo, colpo per la Primavera: dalla SPAL in arrivo Luca D'Andrea". Canale Sassuolo (in Italian). Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  7. ^ Brianti, Simone (17 September 2022). "Torino-Sassuolo, Dionisi pesca dalla Primavera: sorpresa tra i titolari". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Luca D'Andrea rinnova fino al 2027". US Sassuolo Calcio (in Italian). 2 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  9. ^ "LUCA D'ANDREA È GIALLOROSSO". US Catanzaro 1929 (in Italian). 1 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  10. ^ Pirozzi, Federico (1 August 2023). "UFFICIALE – D'Andrea va al Catanzaro in prestito dal Sassuolo". Numero Diez (in Italian). Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  11. ^ Maresca, Oscar (27 August 2023). "Decide un rigore di Vandeputte all'89': Catanzaro-Ternana finisce 2-1". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Ai Giochi del Mediterraneo l'Italia vince ancora, tripletta di Raimondo e semifinale sempre più vicina". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 28 June 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  13. ^ "L'Italia si tiene aggrappata all'Europeo: doppietta di Vignato e gol di Hasa, Bosnia ed Erzegovina ko". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 24 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Tornano i Giochi del Mediterraneo: domenica il raduno a Roma, il 26 giugno l'esordio con il Portogallo". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 15 June 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  15. ^ "L'Italia è ancora d'argento ai Giochi del Mediterraneo: gli Azzurrini sbattono sui pali, a far festa è la Francia". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 5 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  16. ^ "Bollini sceglie i 20 Azzurrini per l'Europeo. Domani mattina partenza per Malta". Italian Football Federation (in Italian). 29 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  17. ^ a b "Portugal 0-1 Italy: Kayode heads resilient Azzurrini to second Under-19 title". UEFA.com. UEFA. 16 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  18. ^ a b Scognamiglio, Pietro (16 July 2023). "Gli azzurrini trionfano: campioni d'Europa Under 19. Battuto il Portogallo" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  19. ^ Boscagli, Gabriele (18 September 2022). "Luca D'Andrea esordisce in Serie A: debutto meritato, non una passerella". Canale Sassuolo (in Italian). Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  20. ^ "L. D'Andrea". soccerway.com. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
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