The 2025/26 season finds Parma Calcio 1913 back in Serie A following their promotion from Serie B as runners-up in 2024/25, ending a four-year exile that saw the club rise from the ashes of bankruptcy. I Crociati (The Crusaders), under the guidance of Fabio Pecchia—the manager who masterminded their promotion—have returned to the top flight with their attacking identity intact. The Stadio Ennio Tardini, one of Italian football’s most beautiful and historic venues, with its distinctive brick facade and intimate stands, once again hosts the likes of Juventus, Inter, and Milan. The club’s ownership, under the Krause Group (which also owns the Parma food brand), has provided stability and investment after the devastating 2015 bankruptcy. This season’s squad reflects Parma’s ambitious project: a blend of experienced veterans, emerging Italian talents, and undervalued internationals, all drilled in Pecchia’s possession-based, attacking system. There is no expectation of European football, only the desperate fight to avoid an immediate return to Serie B while re-establishing the club as a top-flight fixture. Below lies an exhaustive examination of Parma’s first-team roster for 2025/26, organised by position, with each player’s journey, financial details, and stylistic fingerprints dissected thoroughly.
Goalkeepers
1. Zion Suzuki
Nationality: Japanese
Former Clubs: Urawa Red Diamonds, Sint-Truiden (loan)
Transfer Fee: £6 million (2024)
Zion Suzuki has become Parma’s undisputed number one and one of Serie A’s most exciting young goalkeepers, the Japanese international providing reflexes, distribution, and athleticism that justified his significant transfer fee. The 23-year-old’s shot-stopping (75% save percentage in 2024/25 Serie B, 73% in 2025/26 Serie A to date) and command of the penalty area (86% cross-claiming success) have been instrumental in Parma’s promotion and subsequent survival battle. Suzuki’s distribution (89% pass completion), particularly his quick throws to initiate counters and short passes to centre-backs, suits Pecchia’s possession-based build-up. Having started 35 league matches in 2024/25’s promotion campaign and 30 in 2025/26, keeping 14 clean sheets combined, he has proven remarkably durable for his age. Suzuki’s relationship with Japanese teammates (none currently) provides comfort; his Urawa education provided AFC Champions League exposure. Suzuki’s contract runs through 2029, with Parma rejecting January 2026 approaches from Premier League clubs. Suzuki’s performance against AC Milan in November 2025—making 10 saves, including a spectacular double stop—demonstrated his elite potential.
2. Leandro Chichizola
Nationality: Argentine (Italian-born)
Former Clubs: Spezia, Las Palmas (loan)
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2022)
Leandro Chichizola has accepted a rotational role behind Suzuki, providing Argentine-Italian experience, shot-stopping reliability, and cup competition cover. The 34-year-old’s reflexes (72% save percentage in limited appearances) and distribution (86% pass completion) provide functional cover. Chichizola started 10 matches in 2025/26 (cup competitions and Suzuki’s rest), keeping 4 clean sheets. Chichizola’s contract expires in 2027.
3. Edoardo Corvi
Nationality: Italian
Former Clubs: Parma academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Edoardo Corvi has served as emergency third-choice option following development with Parma’s youth setup. The 23-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Defenders
1. Alessandro Circati
Nationality: Italian (Australian-born)
Former Clubs: Parma academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Alessandro Circati has become Parma’s defensive leader and one of Serie A’s most promising young centre-backs, the Italian-Australian defender providing physicality, aerial dominance, and tactical intelligence following his graduation from the club’s academy. The 22-year-old’s reading of the game—intercepting passes (2.4 per 90), cutting angles, covering for advancing full-backs—provides defensive security. His aerial duel success (84%) leads Parma’s defence, neutralising target forwards and providing set-piece security. Circati’s tackling (2.7 per 90) and blocks (1.3 per 90) demonstrate old-school defending. His passing (88% completion) remains secure. Circati’s partnership with Botond Balogh has conceded only 1.15 goals per 90 minutes over the 2025/26 season to date. Circati’s contract runs through 2029, with Parma rejecting January 2026 approaches.
2. Botond Balogh
Nationality: Hungarian
Former Clubs: Parma academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Botond Balogh has emerged as Circati’s long-term partner, the Hungarian centre-back providing physicality, aerial presence, and tactical discipline following his graduation from Parma’s academy. The 23-year-old’s aerial duel success (83%) and tackling (2.5 per 90) provide defensive security. Balogh’s passing (87% completion) remains secure. Balogh’s contract runs through 2029.
3. Enrico Del Prato (Captain)
Nationality: Italian
Former Clubs: Atalanta, Parma
Transfer Fee: £3 million (2021)
Enrico Del Prato has become Parma’s captain and longest-serving current defender, the Italian providing versatility, work rate, and leadership across five seasons at the club. The 26-year-old’s versatility across right-back and centre-back offers Pecchia tactical flexibility. His defensive positioning (2.0 interceptions per 90) and tackling (2.6 per 90) provide balance. Del Prato’s overlapping runs (3.4 per 90) and crossing (36% accuracy) created 2 assists in 2025/26. Del Prato’s leadership, formalised as club captain following the promotion campaign, manages Parma’s dressing room through vocal authority and professional standards. Del Prato’s contract runs through 2029.
4. Emanuele Valeri
Nationality: Italian
Former Clubs: Cremonese, Frosinone (loan)
Transfer Fee: £2 million (2024)
Emanuele Valeri has become Parma’s first-choice left-back, the Italian defender providing attacking thrust, crossing, and defensive improvement following his arrival from Cremonese. The 27-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.8 per 90) and crossing (38% accuracy) created 5 assists in 2025/26. Valeri’s defensive positioning (1.9 interceptions per 90) and tackling (2.4 per 90) have improved through consistent first-team exposure. Valeri’s contract runs through 2029.
5. Woyo Coulibaly
Nationality: French (Malien descent)
Former Clubs: Parma academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Woyo Coulibaly has provided right-back depth following his graduation from Parma’s academy, the French-Malien defender offering pace, crossing, and defensive diligence. The 25-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.5 per 90) and crossing (36% accuracy) created 2 assists in 2025/26. Coulibaly’s contract runs through 2028.
6. Lautaro Valenti
Nationality: Argentine
Former Clubs: Lanús, Parma
Transfer Fee: £3 million (2020)
Lautaro Valenti has provided centre-back depth following his long service, the Argentine defender offering physicality and aerial presence. The 26-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
7. Josh Doig (covered in Sassuolo; departed Hellas Verona, not Parma)
8. Antoine Hainaut
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Parma academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Antoine Hainaut has provided emergency left-back depth following his graduation from Parma’s youth setup. The 22-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Midfielders
1. Adrián Bernabé (Vice-Captain)
Nationality: Spanish
Former Clubs: Manchester City, Parma
Transfer Fee: £3 million (2021)
Adrián Bernabé has become Parma’s creative heartbeat and one of Serie A’s most exciting young midfielders, the Spanish youth international providing passing range, dribbling, and goal threat following his permanent signing from Manchester City. The 24-year-old’s passing (5.4 progressive passes per 90, 90% completion) and composure under pressure enable Parma to build play through midfield. His dribbling (3.6 successful take-ons per 90) and finishing (7 goals in 2025/26) provide elite production from central midfield. Bernabé’s set-piece delivery (4 assists from corners and free kicks) adds significant value. Bernabé’s partnership with Simon Sohm provides midfield balance (Bernabé’s creativity, Sohm’s physicality). Bernabé’s contract runs through 2029, with Parma rejecting January 2026 approaches.
2. Simon Sohm
Nationality: Swiss
Former Clubs: FC Zürich, Parma
Transfer Fee: £4 million (2020)
Simon Sohm has become Parma’s midfield anchor, the Swiss international providing physicality, tackling, and tactical discipline across five seasons at the club. The 24-year-old’s tackling (3.1 per 90) and interceptions (2.4 per 90) lead Parma’s midfield. His work rate (11.7 kilometres per match) and pressing intensity (11.4 pressures per 90) set Pecchia’s standards. Sohm’s passing (88% completion) remains secure; his role involves disruption and physical presence. Sohm’s contract runs through 2029.
3. Nahuel Estévez
Nationality: Argentine
Former Clubs: Spezia, Parma
Transfer Fee: £3 million (2024)
Nahuel Estévez has provided midfield depth following his arrival from Spezia, the Argentine midfielder offering energy, passing, and tactical discipline. The 29-year-old’s passing (4.7 progressive passes per 90, 88% completion) and work rate provide functional depth. Estévez’s contract runs through 2029.
4. Hernani
Nationality: Brazilian
Former Clubs: Atlético Paranaense, Zenit Saint Petersburg (loan), Lazio (loan), Parma
Transfer Fee: £4 million (2021)
Hernani has provided midfield depth following his long service, the Brazilian midfielder offering physicality, set-piece delivery, and experience. The 31-year-old’s contract expires in 2027.
5. Drissa Camara
Nationality: French (Malien descent)
Former Clubs: Parma academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Drissa Camara has graduated from Parma’s youth setup to emergency midfield depth following promising development. The 22-year-old’s contract runs through 2029.
6. Mohamed Anas Haj
Nationality: Moroccan
Former Clubs: Parma academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Mohamed Anas Haj has provided emergency midfield depth following his graduation from Parma’s academy. The 20-year-old’s contract runs through 2029.
Forwards
1. Dennis Man
Nationality: Romanian
Former Clubs: UTA Arad, FCSB
Transfer Fee: £8 million (2021)
Dennis Man has become Parma’s primary attacking weapon, the Romanian international providing pace, dribbling, and finishing from the right flank across five seasons at the club. The 27-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 (12 goals in 2025/26) and creativity (8 assists) provide elite production from wide areas. Man’s work rate defensively—tracking full-backs (1.7 tackles per 90)—improved through Pecchia’s demands. Man’s contract runs through 2029, with Parma rejecting January 2026 approaches.
2. Valentin Mihăilă
Nationality: Romanian
Former Clubs: CS U Craiova, Parma
Transfer Fee: £6 million (2020)
Valentin Mihăilă has provided left-wing depth following his long service, the Romanian international providing pace, dribbling, and creativity. The 25-year-old’s dribbling (3.5 successful take-ons per 90) and finishing (5 goals in 2025/26) provide functional depth. Mihăilă’s contract runs through 2029.
3. Ange-Yoan Bonny
Nationality: French (Ivorian descent)
Former Clubs: Parma academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Ange-Yoan Bonny has emerged as Parma’s first-choice striker, the French-Ivorian forward providing physicality, hold-up play, and finishing following his graduation from the club’s academy. The 22-year-old’s finishing (11 goals in 2025/26) and conversion rate (24%) provide consistent scoring threat. His hold-up play (73% success receiving back to goal) and aerial duel success (80%) occupy defenders, creating space for Man and the wingers. Bonny’s work rate pressing centre-backs (10.6 pressures per 90) sets Parma’s defensive tone from the front. Bonny’s contract runs through 2029.
4. Pontus Almqvist
Nationality: Swedish
Former Clubs: Rostov, Lecce (loan)
Transfer Fee: £3 million (2024)
Pontus Almqvist has provided wide depth following his arrival from Lecce, the Swedish international offering pace, crossing, and creativity. The 26-year-old’s dribbling (3.3 successful take-ons per 90) and finishing (4 goals in 2025/26) provide functional depth. Almqvist’s contract runs through 2029.
5. Anthony Partipilo
Nationality: Italian
Former Clubs: Parma academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Anthony Partipilo has provided emergency wide depth following his graduation from Parma’s youth setup. The 22-year-old’s contract runs through 2029.
6. Gabriel Charpentier
Nationality: Congolese
Former Clubs: Parma academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Gabriel Charpentier has provided emergency striker depth following his graduation from Parma’s youth setup. The 23-year-old’s contract runs through 2029.
Conclusion
Parma’s 2025/26 squad represents the most exciting and youthful group assembled since the club’s bankruptcy-induced rebuild began in 2015, a testament to Fabio Pecchia’s coaching, the recruitment team’s intelligence (Suzuki, Bernabé, Man), and the academy’s continued production (Circati, Balogh, Bonny). The defence, anchored by Alessandro Circati’s Italian-Australian physicality and Botond Balogh’s Hungarian solidity, provides platform for Pecchia’s possession-based, attacking system. The midfield, dominated by Adrián Bernabé’s Spanish creativity and Simon Sohm’s Swiss physicality, controls matches through pressing, technical quality, and tactical discipline. The attack, headlined by Dennis Man’s Romanian wizardry and Ange-Yoan Bonny’s French-Ivorian physicality, carries genuine goal threat against any opponent. Crucially, Parma has balanced immediate survival with long-term planning; Bernabé, Circati, Man, and Bonny represent enormous resale value while contributing immediately. The looming challenge involves maintaining Serie A status after years in the wilderness—and avoiding the yo-yo trap that has claimed so many promoted clubs. Yet the Stadio Tardini’s historic, intimate atmosphere—amplified by supporters who remember the glory days of the 1990s (the Zola, Asprilla, Thuram, Buffon era) and the devastating 2015 bankruptcy—provides emotional fuel. Parma no longer hopes merely to survive; they expect to re-establish themselves as a top-flight fixture. This squad appears equipped to deliver another season of Serie A football, continuing the club’s remarkable resurrection. Forza Crociati.
