The 2025/26 season finds Hellas Verona FC in a state of determined survival under the guidance of Marco Baroni, the experienced Italian manager who returned to the club in 2024 for his second spell following a brief but successful stint at Lecce. I Gialloblù (The Yellow and Blues), wearing the colours that have become synonymous with passionate, gritty football, continue to defy pre-season predictions of relegation year after year. The Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, shared with city rivals Chievo (now in lower divisions), remains one of Italian football’s most atmospheric venues, the passionate Curva Sud creating a formidable home advantage. This season’s squad reflects Verona’s enduring identity: organised defenders, hard-working midfielders, and a collective work rate that exceeds the sum of individual parts. The club’s ownership under the Setti family (via the US-based Presidio Investors) has provided stability, with sporting director Sean Sogliano unearthing undervalued gems across Europe. Below lies an exhaustive examination of Verona’s first-team roster for 2025/26, organised by position, with each player’s journey, financial details, and stylistic fingerprints dissected thoroughly.
Goalkeepers
1. Lorenzo Montipò
Nationality: Italian
Former Clubs: Novara, Benevento, Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2021)
Lorenzo Montipò has become Verona’s undisputed number one and one of Serie A’s most underrated goalkeepers, the Italian shot-stopper providing reflexes, command, and consistency across five seasons at the Bentegodi. The 29-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 Verona’s successive survival campaigns. Montipò’s distribution (88% pass completion) remains functional, but his shot-stopping fundamentals have proven remarkably reliable. Having started 34 league matches in 2025/26, keeping 12 clean sheets, he has silenced pre-season sceptics. Montipò’s relationship with Italian teammates provides comfort; his journey from Benevento’s bench to Verona’s number one is a testament to perseverance. Montipò’s contract runs through 2028. Montipò’s performance against Juventus in November 2025—making 10 saves, including a penalty stop—demonstrated his enduring quality.
2. Alessandro Berardi
Nationality: Italian
Former Clubs: Verona academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Alessandro Berardi has accepted a rotational role behind Montipò, providing Italian backup depth, cup competition cover, and homegrown continuity. The 25-year-old’s shot-stopping (72% save percentage in limited appearances) and distribution (86% pass completion) provide functional cover. Berardi started 10 matches in 2025/26 (cup competitions and Montipò’s rest), keeping 4 clean sheets. Berardi’s contract runs through 2028.
3. Simone Perilli
Nationality: Italian
Former Clubs: Verona academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Simone Perilli has served as emergency third-choice option following development with Verona’s youth setup. The 23-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Defenders
1. Giangiacomo Magnani (Captain)
Nationality: Italian
Former Clubs: Perugia, Sassuolo, Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: £3 million (2022)
Giangiacomo Magnani has become Verona’s defensive captain and leader, the Italian centre-back providing physicality, aerial dominance, and organisational communication across four seasons at the club. The 30-year-old’s reading of the game—intercepting passes (2.4 per 90), cutting angles, covering for advancing wing-backs—provides defensive security. His aerial duel success (86%) leads Verona’s defence, neutralising target forwards and providing set-piece security. Magnani’s tackling (2.8 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. Magnani’s partnership with Pawel Dawidowicz has conceded only 1.18 goals per 90 minutes over the 2025/26 season to date. Magnani’s leadership, formalised as club captain, manages Verona’s dressing room through vocal authority and professional standards. Magnani’s contract runs through 2029.
2. Pawel Dawidowicz
Nationality: Polish
Former Clubs: Benfica B, Palermo (loan), Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: £4 million (2021)
Pawel Dawidowicz has become Magnani’s long-term partner, the Polish international centre-back providing physicality, aerial presence, and tactical discipline across five seasons at the club. The 29-year-old’s aerial duel success (85%) and tackling (2.7 per 90) provide defensive security. Dawidowicz’s contract runs through 2029.
3. Juan Cabal
Nationality: Colombian (covered in Juventus; departed Verona 2024)
4. Fabien Centonze
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Metz, Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: £3 million (2024)
Fabien Centonze has become Verona’s first-choice right-back, the French defender providing pace, crossing, and defensive diligence following his arrival from Metz. The 29-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.7 per 90) and crossing (37% accuracy) created 3 assists in 2025/26. Centonze’s contract runs through 2029.
5. Darko Lazović
Nationality: Serbian
Former Clubs: Genoa, Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2019)
Darko Lazović has become Verona’s first-choice left-back, the Serbian international providing energy, crossing, and experience across seven seasons at the club. The 34-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.6 per 90) and crossing (36% accuracy) created 4 assists in 2025/26. Lazović’s contract expires in 2027.
6. Diego Coppola
Nationality: Italian
Former Clubs: Hellas Verona academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Diego Coppola has provided centre-back depth following his graduation from Verona’s youth setup, the Italian defender offering physicality and aerial presence. The 22-year-old’s contract runs through 2029.
7. Josh Doig
Nationality: Scottish (covered in Sassuolo; departed Verona 2024)
8. Bruno Amione
Nationality: Argentine
Former Clubs: Atalanta, Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2022)
Bruno Amione has provided centre-back depth following his arrival from Atalanta, the Argentine defender offering physicality and potential. The 24-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Midfielders
1. Suat Serdar (Vice-Captain)
Nationality: German (Turkish descent)
Former Clubs: Mainz 05, Schalke 04, Hertha Berlin, Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Suat Serdar has become Verona’s midfield engine and vice-captain, the German midfielder providing energy, tackling, and tactical intelligence following his free transfer from Hertha Berlin. The 28-year-old’s tackling (3.1 per 90) and interceptions (2.4 per 90) lead Verona’s midfield. His work rate (11.8 kilometres per match) and pressing intensity (11.5 pressures per 90) set Baroni’s standards. Serdar’s ball-carrying (3.8 progressive carries per 90) provides midfield progression. Serdar’s contract runs through 2029.
2. Ondrej Duda
Nationality: Slovak
Former Clubs: Legia Warsaw, Hertha Berlin, Norwich City (loan), Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2023)
Ondrej Duda has become Verona’s creative heartbeat, the Slovak international providing passing range, set-piece delivery, and attacking intelligence across three seasons at the club. The 31-year-old’s passing (4.9 progressive passes per 90, 89% completion) and composure under pressure enable Verona to build play through midfield. Duda’s finishing (5 goals in 2025/26) and creativity (6 assists) provide balanced output. Duda’s contract runs through 2029.
3. Reda Belahyane
Nationality: French (Moroccan descent)
Former Clubs: Nice, Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: £3 million (2024)
Reda Belahyane has provided midfield depth following his arrival from Nice, the French-Moroccan midfielder offering energy, tackling, and tactical discipline. The 22-year-old’s tackling (2.8 per 90) and work rate provide functional depth. Belahyane’s contract runs through 2029.
4. Dani Silva
Nationality: Portuguese
Former Clubs: Vitória Guimarães, Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2023)
Dani Silva has provided midfield depth following his arrival from Vitória Guimarães, the Portuguese midfielder offering passing quality and tactical intelligence. The 26-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
5. Ajdin Hrustić
Nationality: Australian
Former Clubs: Eintracht Frankfurt, Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: Loan from Eintracht Frankfurt (2025)
Ajdin Hrustić’s season-long loan from Eintracht Frankfurt added Australian international creativity and midfield depth to Verona’s squad. The 29-year-old’s passing (4.6 progressive passes per 90) and set-piece delivery provide functional depth. Hrustić’s loan expires at the end of the 2025/26 season.
6. Yayah Kallon
Nationality: Sierra Leonean
Former Clubs: Hellas Verona academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Yayah Kallon has provided emergency wide midfield depth following his graduation from Verona’s youth setup. The 23-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Forwards
1. Thomas Henry
Nationality: French (Belgian-born)
Former Clubs: OH Leuven, Venezia, Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: £5 million (2022)
Thomas Henry has become Verona’s primary attacking weapon, the French striker providing physicality, finishing, and hold-up play across four seasons at the club. The 30-year-old’s finishing (13 goals in 2025/26) and conversion rate (24%) provide consistent scoring threat. His hold-up play (74% success receiving back to goal) and aerial duel success (82%) occupy defenders, creating space for wingers and midfielders. Henry’s work rate pressing centre-backs (10.7 pressures per 90) sets Verona’s defensive tone from the front. Henry’s contract runs through 2029, with Verona rejecting January 2026 approaches.
2. Milan Đurić
Nationality: Bosnian
Former Clubs: Cesena, Cittadella, Ascoli, Salernitana, Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Milan Đurić has provided veteran striker depth following his free transfer from Salernitana, the Bosnian forward offering physicality, aerial presence, and hold-up play as Henry’s understudy. The 35-year-old’s finishing (5 goals in 2025/26 in limited minutes) and aerial duel success (81%) provide functional depth. Đurić’s contract expires in 2027.
3. Karol Świderski
Nationality: Polish
Former Clubs: Jagiellonia Białystok, PAOK, Charlotte FC, Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: £3 million (2024)
Karol Świderski has provided striker and wide depth following his arrival from Charlotte FC, the Polish international offering finishing, movement, and creativity. The 28-year-old’s finishing (6 goals in 2025/26) provides functional depth. Świderski’s contract runs through 2029.
4. Tijjani Noslin
Nationality: Dutch
Former Clubs: Fortuna Sittard, Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: £3 million (2024)
Tijjani Noslin has provided wide depth following his arrival from Fortuna Sittard, the Dutch winger offering pace, dribbling, and creativity. The 24-year-old’s dribbling (3.4 successful take-ons per 90) and finishing (4 goals in 2025/26) provide functional depth. Noslin’s contract runs through 2029.
5. Ruben Vinagre
Nationality: Portuguese
Former Clubs: Monaco, Sporting CP (loan), Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: Loan from Sporting CP (2025)
Ruben Vinagre’s season-long loan from Sporting CP added Portuguese left-back and wide midfield depth to Verona’s squad. The 26-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.5 per 90) and crossing (36% accuracy) created 2 assists in 2025/26. Vinagre’s loan expires at the end of the 2025/26 season.
6. Elayis Tavşan
Nationality: Dutch (Turkish descent)
Former Clubs: Helmond Sport, Hellas Verona
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2024)
Elayis Tavşan has provided emergency wide depth following his arrival from Helmond Sport, the Dutch winger offering pace and potential. The 24-year-old’s contract runs through 2029.
Conclusion
Verona’s 2025/26 squad represents the most resilient and tactically coherent group assembled since the club’s return to Serie A in 2019, a testament to Marco Baroni’s pragmatic coaching, the recruitment team’s intelligence (Montipò, Serdar, Henry), and the club’s ability to survive against superior opponents. The defence, anchored by Giangiacomo Magnani’s Italian physicality and Pawel Dawidowicz’s Polish solidity, provides platform for Verona’s organised, defensively sound survival system. The midfield, dominated by Suat Serdar’s German energy and Ondrej Duda’s Slovak creativity, controls matches through pressing, disruption, and occasional quality. The attack, headlined by Thomas Henry’s French physicality and finishing, carries sufficient goal threat to secure survival. Crucially, Verona has balanced immediate competitiveness with financial sustainability; Henry, Serdar, and Montipò represent significant resale value while contributing immediately. The looming challenge involves maintaining Serie A status despite the club’s modest budget and the constant threat of losing key players to richer clubs—a reality Verona has navigated brilliantly for six consecutive seasons. Yet the Stadio Bentegodi’s passionate, occasionally hostile atmosphere—amplified by the Curva Sud’s supporters, who remember the club’s Scudetto-winning season (1984/85) and more recent struggles—provides emotional fuel. Verona does not hope merely to survive; they expect to fight every match, making life difficult for Italy’s traditional powers. This squad appears equipped to deliver another season of Serie A football.
