Cesare Casadei (born 10 January 2003) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for club Torino.
Casadei played youth football with various Italian clubs before moving from Inter Milan to Chelsea in 2022. He was sent on loan in January 2023 and made his professional debut with Reading. He then joined Leicester City on loan for the 2023–24 season. He joined Torino in February 2025.
Representing Italy in various youth levels, Casadei received the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot awards in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Club career Early life and Inter Milan Born in Ravenna and growing up in Milano Marittima, Casadei started playing football at Cervia before joining Cesena. In 2018, after the latter club faced bankruptcy, the midfielder moved to Inter Milan, where he quickly came through the youth ranks, winning a national Under-17 championship in 2019 and rising to the Under-19 squad while still being only seventeen.
In October 2021, he was included in The Guardians yearly "Next Generation" list, featuring the highest-rated prospects born in 2003. The following year, Casadei received his first call-ups to Inter's first team, while contributing to the U19s' final victory in the Campionato Primavera 1.
Chelsea
Chelsea U21 On 19 August 2022, it was announced that Chelsea had agreed a deal with Inter Milan for the signing of Cesare Casadei on a six-year contract. His transfer fee was reported to be in the range of €15 million, plus €5 million in add-ons.
Casadei was included in the U21 team, and on 31 August, he made his debut against Sutton United, losing 1–0 in an EFL Trophy match and being red carded. Four days later, he made his Premier League 2 debut, when he scored a 48th-minute goal to make it 2–0 against Everton U21. On 22 November, he scored a long-distance goal in a 4–2 away win against Peterborough United senior team in the EFL Trophy second round; the goal was also voted as Chelsea's Goal of the Month. He scored a total of five goals in 13 appearances for Chelsea U21 in all competitions.
Loan to Reading On 30 January 2023, Casadei was loaned to Championship side Reading until the end of the season. He went on to make his full professional debut on 4 February, starting in a 2–2 league draw against Watford. He scored his first goal for the club on 15 March 2023 in a 2–1 loss at Blackburn Rovers. He was a part of the team that eventually suffered relegation to EFL League One at the end of the 2022–23 campaign.
Loan to Leicester City On 15 August 2023, Casadei was loaned to EFL Championship side Leicester City until the end of the season. He made his debut for the club four days later, coming on as a substitute for Wilfred Ndidi in the 62nd minute of a league game against Cardiff City, in which he went on to score the 2–1 winning goal in the 92nd minute of the match.
Return to Chelsea On 19 January 2024, Casadei was recalled by Chelsea from his loan at Leicester. He made his debut for the Blues coming on as a late substitute for Cole Palmer in the side's 1–4 away defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League on 31 January 2024.
Torino On 2 February 2025, Casadei signed for Serie A club Torino.
International career Casadei has represented Italy at almost all youth international levels, from the Under-16 to the Under-21 national team.
In June 2022, he was included in the squad that took part in the UEFA Under-19 European Championship in Slovakia, where Italy reached the semi-finals before getting knocked out by eventual champions England.
On 19 November 2022, he made his debut for the Italy U21 squad in a friendly match lost 4–2 against Germany.
In December 2022, he was involved in a training camp led by the Italian senior national team's manager, Roberto Mancini, and aimed at the most promising national talents.
In May 2023, he was included in the Italian squad that took part in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. Having helped Italy reach the final, as the Azzurrini eventually lost to Uruguay, he received both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot awards, as the most valuable player and the top scorer of the tournament with 7 goals.
In March 2025, he was called up to the senior Italy squad for the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League quarter-final matches against Germany on 20 and 23 March 2025.
Style of play Casadei is a midfielder who has played in several midfield roles, including as an attacking midfielder and in deeper positions. Primarily right-footed, he is capable of playing on either side of midfield in different tactical formations.
He is tall and has a slight valgus deformity. He has been described as comfortable in possession, both when passing and carrying the ball, and has been noted for his pace and coordination. His off-the-ball movement, shooting, and heading ability allow him to create scoring opportunities. Defensively, he has been noted for pressing opponents, contesting tackles, and using his physicality in duels or while shielding the ball.
Due to his skills, he has been compared to Massimo Ambrosini and Sergej Milinković-Savić, although he cited Nicolò Barella, Marcelo Brozović, Radja Nainggolan, Javier Zanetti and Federico Valverde as sources of inspiration.
Personal life Cesare's brother, Ettore, is also a footballer; he played a number of games in Serie D, most notably with Romagna Centro, and most recently represented the soccer team of the Florida Institute of Technology.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsChelsea U212022–23————4141Chelsea2023–24Premier League1100000——1102024–25Premier League000010500060Total11000105000170Reading (loan)2022–23Championship1510000——151Leicester City (loan)2023–24Championship2221120——253Torino2024–25Serie A151————1512025–26Serie A33631———3672026–27Serie A1010———20Total49741———538Career total97105230504111413
HonoursLeicester City EFL Championship: 2023–24Italy U20 FIFA U-20 World Cup runner-up: 2023Individual' FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Ball: 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Boot: 2023
References
External links
Profile at the Chelsea F.C. website