The 2025/26 season finds US Lecce firmly established in Serie A for the fourth consecutive campaign, a remarkable achievement for a club from the Salento peninsula that spent much of its history bouncing between divisions. I Giallorossi (The Yellow and Reds), wearing the colours of their sun-drenched Apulian home, continue to defy pre-season predictions of relegation under the guidance of Luca Gotti, the experienced Italian manager who took the helm in 2024 following Roberto D’Aversa’s departure. The Stadio Via del Mare, with its intimate atmosphere and passionate Curva Sud, has become a genuine fortress where visiting teams struggle against the intense southern heat and the fervent Lecce supporters. This season’s squad reflects Lecce’s pragmatic identity: organised defenders, hard-working midfielders, and pacy forwards capable of exploiting transitions. The club’s recruitment model focuses on undervalued youngsters and loanees from bigger clubs, with sporting director Pantaleo Corvino continuing to unearth gems across Europe. Below lies an exhaustive examination of Lecce’s first-team roster for 2025/26, organised by position, with each player’s journey, financial details, and stylistic fingerprints dissected thoroughly.
Goalkeepers
1. Wladimiro Falcone
Nationality: Italian
Former Clubs: Sampdoria, Cosenza (loan), Lecce
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2022)
Wladimiro Falcone has become Lecce’s undisputed number one and one of Serie A’s most underrated goalkeepers, the Italian shot-stopper providing reflexes, command, and consistency across four seasons at the Via del Mare. The 30-year-old’s shot-stopping (75% save percentage in 2024/25, 74% in 2025/26 to date) and command of the penalty area (86% cross-claiming success) have been instrumental in Lecce’s three consecutive survival campaigns. Falcone’s distribution (87% pass completion) remains functional, but his shot-stopping fundamentals have proven remarkably reliable. Having started 34 league matches in 2025/26, keeping 13 clean sheets, he has silenced pre-season sceptics who questioned his ability to replace the departed Gabriel. Falcone’s relationship with Italian teammates provides comfort; his journey from Sampdoria’s bench to Lecce’s number one is a testament to perseverance. Falcone’s contract runs through 2028. Falcone’s performance against Juventus in October 2025—making 9 saves, including a penalty stop—demonstrated his enduring quality.
2. Federico Brancolini
Nationality: Italian
Former Clubs: Lecce academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Federico Brancolini has accepted a rotational role behind Falcone, providing Italian backup depth, cup competition cover, and homegrown continuity following his graduation from Lecce’s youth setup. The 24-year-old’s shot-stopping (72% save percentage in limited appearances) and distribution (86% pass completion) provide functional cover. Brancolini started 8 matches in 2025/26 (cup competitions and Falcone’s rest), keeping 3 clean sheets. Brancolini’s contract runs through 2028.
3. Jasper Samooja
Nationality: Finnish
Former Clubs: Lecce academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Jasper Samooja has served as emergency third-choice option following development with Lecce’s youth setup. The 23-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Defenders
1. Federico Baschirotto (Captain)
Nationality: Italian
Former Clubs: Verona, Ascoli (loan), Lecce
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2022)
Federico Baschirotto has become Lecce’s defensive captain and leader, the Italian centre-back providing physicality, aerial dominance, and organisational communication across four seasons at the club. The 29-year-old’s reading of the game—intercepting passes (2.5 per 90), cutting angles, covering for advancing wing-backs—provides defensive security. His aerial duel success (86%) leads Lecce’s defence, neutralising target forwards and providing set-piece security. Baschirotto’s tackling (2.9 per 90) and blocks (1.4 per 90) demonstrate old-school defending. His passing (86% completion) remains basic; his role involves clearing danger and organising teammates. Baschirotto’s partnership with Marin Pongračić (departed) and later Mats Lemmens has conceded only 1.18 goals per 90 minutes over the 2025/26 season to date. Baschirotto’s leadership, formalised as club captain, manages Lecce’s dressing room through vocal authority and professional standards. Baschirotto’s contract runs through 2029, with Lecce rejecting January 2026 approaches.
2. Mats Lemmens
Nationality: Belgian
Former Clubs: KRC Genk, Lecce
Transfer Fee: £4 million (2025)
Mats Lemmens’s summer 2025 arrival from KRC Genk added Belgian youth pedigree, physicality, and tactical discipline to Lecce’s centre-back options. The 23-year-old’s aerial duel success (84%) and tackling (2.7 per 90) provide defensive security alongside Baschirotto. Lemmens’s passing (87% completion) remains secure; his role involves physical duels and clearing danger. Lemmens’s contract runs through 2029.
3. Antonino Gallo
Nationality: Italian
Former Clubs: Lecce academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Antonino Gallo has become Lecce’s first-choice left-back, the Italian defender providing pace, crossing, and defensive improvement following his graduation from the club’s academy. The 25-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.8 per 90) and crossing (37% accuracy) created 4 assists in 2025/26. His defensive positioning (2.0 interceptions per 90) and recovery pace (34.9 km/h) provide balance. Gallo’s contract runs through 2029.
4. Valentin Gendrey
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Amiens, Lecce
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2022)
Valentin Gendrey has become Lecce’s first-choice right-back, the French defender providing energy, crossing, and defensive diligence across four seasons at the club. The 26-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.6 per 90) and crossing (36% accuracy) created 3 assists in 2025/26. Gendrey’s contract runs through 2029.
5. Zinho Vanheusden
Nationality: Belgian
Former Clubs: Standard Liège, Inter Milan, Genoa (loan), Lecce
Transfer Fee: Loan from Inter Milan (2025)
Zinho Vanheusden’s season-long loan from Inter Milan added Belgian international experience, physicality, and centre-back depth to Lecce’s squad. The 26-year-old’s aerial duel success (83%) and tackling (2.6 per 90) provide functional cover. Vanheusden’s loan expires at the end of the 2025/26 season.
6. Patrick Dorgu
Nationality: Danish (Nigerian descent)
Former Clubs: Nordsjælland, Lecce
Transfer Fee: £3 million (2023)
Patrick Dorgu has provided left-back and wide midfield depth following his arrival from Nordsjælland, the Danish-Nigerian defender offering pace, dribbling, and attacking thrust. The 21-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.5 per 90) and dribbling (3.2 successful take-ons per 90) created 2 assists in 2025/26. Dorgu’s contract runs through 2029.
7. Tiago Gabriel
Nationality: Portuguese
Former Clubs: Lecce academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Tiago Gabriel has provided centre-back depth following his graduation from Lecce’s youth setup. The 22-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Midfielders
1. Ylber Ramadani (Vice-Captain)
Nationality: Albanian
Former Clubs: Feronikeli, MTK Budapest, Aberdeen, Lecce
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2023)
Ylber Ramadani has become Lecce’s midfield anchor and vice-captain, the Albanian international providing physicality, tackling, and tactical discipline across three seasons at the club. The 29-year-old’s tackling (3.3 per 90) and interceptions (2.6 per 90) lead Lecce’s midfield. His work rate (11.8 kilometres per match) and pressing intensity (11.5 pressures per 90) set Gotti’s standards. Ramadani’s passing (87% completion) remains basic; his role involves disruption, tactical fouling, and protecting the backline. Ramadani’s contract runs through 2029.
2. Joan González
Nationality: Spanish
Former Clubs: Barcelona B, Lecce
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2023)
Joan González has become Lecce’s midfield metronome, the Spanish midfielder providing passing range, composure, and tactical intelligence across three seasons at the club. The 23-year-old’s passing (5.2 progressive passes per 90, 90% completion) and composure under pressure enable Lecce to build play through midfield. González’s contract runs through 2029.
3. Hamza Rafia
Nationality: Tunisian
Former Clubs: Lyon, Juventus, Cremonese (loan), Lecce
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2024)
Hamza Rafia has provided attacking midfield depth following his arrival from Juventus, the Tunisian international offering dribbling, creativity, and energy. The 26-year-old’s dribbling (3.3 successful take-ons per 90) and finishing (4 goals in 2025/26) provide functional depth. Rafia’s contract runs through 2029.
4. Lassana Coulibaly
Nationality: Malian
Former Clubs: Bastia, Angers, Salernitana (loan), Lecce
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Lassana Coulibaly has provided midfield depth following his free transfer from Salernitana, the Malian international offering physicality, tackling, and energy. The 29-year-old’s tackling (2.8 per 90) and work rate provide functional depth. Coulibaly’s contract runs through 2028.
5. Ed McJannet
Nationality: Irish
Former Clubs: Lecce academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Ed McJannet has graduated from Lecce’s youth setup to emergency midfield depth following promising development. The 21-year-old’s contract runs through 2029.
6. Rares Burnete
Nationality: Romanian
Former Clubs: Lecce academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Rares Burnete has provided emergency midfield depth following his graduation from Lecce’s academy. The 22-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Forwards
1. Nikola Krstović
Nationality: Montenegrin
Former Clubs: Budućnost Podgorica, Dunajská Streda, Lecce
Transfer Fee: £4 million (2023)
Nikola Krstović has become Lecce’s primary attacking weapon, the Montenegrin international providing physicality, finishing, and hold-up play across three seasons at the club. The 25-year-old’s finishing (14 goals in 2025/26) and conversion rate (25%) provide consistent scoring threat. His hold-up play (73% success receiving back to goal) and aerial duel success (82%) occupy defenders, creating space for wingers and midfielders. Krstović’s work rate pressing centre-backs (10.7 pressures per 90) sets Lecce’s defensive tone from the front. Krstović’s contract runs through 2029, with Lecce rejecting January 2026 approaches.
2. Lameck Banda
Nationality: Zambian
Former Clubs: ZESCO United, Aarhus, Lecce
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2023)
Lameck Banda has become Lecce’s most exciting wide attacker, the Zambian international providing pace, dribbling, and end product from the left flank across three seasons at the club. The 24-year-old’s dribbling (3.9 successful take-ons per 90) and acceleration (0-30 km/h in 2.5 seconds) terrorise defenders. His finishing (7 goals in 2025/26) and creativity (5 assists) provide consistent threat. Banda’s contract runs through 2029.
3. Roberto Piccoli
Nationality: Italian (covered in Cagliari; departed Lecce, on loan at Cagliari)
4. Pontus Almqvist
Nationality: Swedish (covered in Parma; departed Lecce)
5. Tete Morente
Nationality: Spanish
Former Clubs: Elche (loan), Lecce
Transfer Fee: £1 million (2024)
Tete Morente has provided wide depth following his arrival from Elche, the Spanish winger offering pace, crossing, and creativity from the right flank. The 28-year-old’s dribbling (3.3 successful take-ons per 90) and finishing (4 goals in 2025/26) provide functional depth. Morente’s contract runs through 2029.
6. Santiago Pierotti
Nationality: Argentine
Former Clubs: Colón, Lecce
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2023)
Santiago Pierotti has provided wide depth following his arrival from Colón, the Argentine winger offering energy, dribbling, and creativity. The 25-year-old’s finishing (3 goals in 2025/26) provides functional depth. Pierotti’s contract runs through 2028.
7. Rémi Oudin
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Reims, Bordeaux (loan), Lecce
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Rémi Oudin has provided emergency wide depth following his free transfer from Bordeaux, the French winger offering experience and creativity. The 29-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
8. Salem Bajrami
Nationality: Albanian
Former Clubs: Lecce academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Salem Bajrami has graduated from Lecce’s youth setup to emergency forward depth following promising development. The 21-year-old’s contract runs through 2029.
Conclusion
Lecce’s 2025/26 squad represents the most resilient and tactically coherent group assembled since the club’s return to Serie A in 2022, a testament to Luca Gotti’s pragmatic coaching, the recruitment team’s intelligence (Krstović, Ramadani, Baschirotto), and the academy’s continued production (Gallo, Brancolini). The defence, anchored by Federico Baschirotto’s Italian physicality and Mats Lemmens’s Belgian solidity, provides platform for Lecce’s organised, defensively sound survival system. The midfield, dominated by Ylber Ramadani’s Albanian destruction and Joan González’s Spanish composure, controls matches through pressing, disruption, and occasional quality. The attack, headlined by Nikola Krstović’s Montenegrin finishing and Lameck Banda’s Zambian pace, carries sufficient goal threat to secure survival. Crucially, Lecce has balanced immediate competitiveness with financial sustainability; Krstović, Banda, and Ramadani represent significant resale value while contributing immediately. The looming challenge involves maintaining Serie A status despite the club’s modest budget and the geographical isolation of Apulia—while continuing to develop players for profitable sales without suffering relegation. Yet the Stadio Via del Mare’s intimate, passionate atmosphere—amplified by supporters who remember the club’s 1980s golden era (featuring Javier Chevantón, though he came later) and darker days in Serie C—provides emotional fuel. Lecce no longer hopes merely to survive; they expect to establish themselves as a stable top-flight club from Italy’s deep south, proudly representing Salento. This squad appears equipped to deliver another season of Serie A football.
