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Wilfried Gnonto
Italian footballer (born 2003) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Degnand Wilfried Gnonto (Italian pronunciation: [ˈvilfrid ˈɲonto]; born 5 November 2003) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Leeds United and the Italy national team.
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Early life
Gnonto was born in Verbania, Italy, in 2003 to Ivorian parents and he grew up in Baveno, where he attended a liceo classico before switching to pursue secondary education at a liceo scientifico.[1][2]
Club career
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FC Zürich
A youth product of Inter Milan since the age of nine, Gnonto joined Swiss club Zürich on 23 April 2020.[3] Gnonto made his professional debut with Zürich as a substitute in a 4–1 away Swiss Super League win over FC Vaduz on 24 October 2020, and assisted his team's final goal.[4] He scored his first professional goal on 21 May 2021, once again in a 4–1 league home win over FC Vaduz, after replacing Antonio Marchesano in the second half.[5]
In his second season, he won the 2021–22 Swiss Super League title with the club, with four games remaining.[6]
Leeds United
On 2 September 2022, Gnonto joined Leeds United on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[7] He made his Premier League debut on 29 October, in Leeds’ 2–1 win against Liverpool at Anfield, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Jack Harrison and opening the action that led to the winning goal by Crysencio Summerville.[8] On 5 November, he again replaced Harrison in the second half of the league match against Bournemouth, eventually assisting Summerville for his second consecutive winning goal.[9]
On 4 January 2023, Gnonto scored his first Premier League goal for Leeds, a 28th minute opener in a 2–2 home draw against West Ham United.[10] Two weeks later he scored a brace for Leeds in an FA Cup third round replay against Cardiff City at Elland Road, a volley within the first minute and a goal scored in the 36th minute in a 5–2 win.[11]
On 8 February 2023, he scored less than a minute into Leeds' 2–2 draw with Manchester United, following a pass from Patrick Bamford.[12] In doing so, he became the youngest overseas player to score at Old Trafford in a Premier League fixture.[13]
In August 2023, Gnonto refused to play for Leeds in an attempt to force a transfer away from the club, following Leeds' relegation to the EFL Championship at the end of the 2022–23 season:[14] he then returned to training and officially apologized to manager Daniel Farke at the end of the month.[15] On 26 August, in his first game since his return, Gnonto scored a goal in a 4–3 away league win over Ipswich Town.[16]
In the 2023–24 season, Gnonto, an almost-constant regular on the right wing in Farke’s starting XI, had a run of form that saw him net seven goals from February to mid-March 2024.[17][18] On 16 May, he set up a goal in Leeds's 4–0 win over Norwich City in the EFL Championship play-off semi-final, which allowed them to advance to the final against Southampton at Wembley Stadium.[19][20]
In the 2024-25 season, Gnonto scored a career-high nine league goals, which was tied with Brenden Aaronson for the fourth-most on the team, adding six league assists, which was the sixth-most on the team.[21][22] On 3 May 2025, Gnonto scored a goal and added an assist in the team's 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle at Home Park, which saw Leeds clinch the 2024-25 EFL Championship title and get promoted back to the Premier League. He provided the match-winning assist to Manor Solomon in the 91st minute.[23] On 4 May 2025, Gnonto was voted Leeds United Young Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season.[24]
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International career
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Gnonto represented Italy at under-17 level in the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup; he was one of the team's key players, scoring three goals en-route to the quarter-finals, where Italy lost out 2–0 to eventual champions Brazil.[25][26] His opening individual goal in Italy's 2–1 win over Mexico in their second group match – which allowed them to advanced to the round of 16 – was later named the "Goal of the Tournament."[27][28] His other two goals came in Italy's opening group match, a 5–0 win over Solomon Islands.[29]
In May 2022, after being called by Roberto Mancini to join a training camp for the Italy national team, Gnonto was included in the final 30-player Azzurri squad for the 2022 Finalissima.[30][31] On 4 June 2022, Gnonto made his senior debut for Italy in a UEFA Nations League game against Germany, coming on as a substitute and providing an assist in a 1–1 home draw.[32] On 14 June, in Italy's fourth group match, he scored his first international goal in a 5–2 away loss to Germany, to become the youngest goalscorer for Italy, aged 18 years and 222 days, breaking the previous record held by Bruno Nicolè since 1958.[33]
In June 2023, Gnonto was included in Italy's squad for the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League Finals.[34] On 18 June, Gnonto started in Italy's 3–2 win over Netherlands in the third-place match of the tournament, contributing to Davide Frattesi's goal, who scored after the former's shot was blocked.[35]
Style of play
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Gnonto is a quick, agile, and technically gifted forward, with a low centre of gravity, who is known for his dribbling ability and close control at speed.[36][37][38][39] He has also stood out for his work-rate on the pitch.[40] Although he is a right-footed player, who is often used as a left winger, a position which allows him to drift out wide, take on opponents, and strike at goal,[36][41][42] he is able to play anywhere across the front line, courtesy of his ability to use either foot, and has also been used as a second striker, or even as a right winger, or striker on occasion.[38][43][44][45] Despite his diminutive stature (standing at 1.72m/5 ft 7 in), he possesses significant elevation and physical strength, which allows him to retain the ball under pressure.[36][37][42] His qualities and playing style have led him to be compared to English winger Raheem Sterling in the media; Gnonto has also cited his idol, Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, as a major influence.[44][46] Martin Hardy of The Times also likened Gnonto to compatriot Paolo Di Canio in 2024.[43]
Considered to be a promising young player in the media, in 2020, he was named one of the "Next Generation 2020: 60 of the best young talents in world football" by The Guardian.[36][47]
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Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 23 August 2025[48]
- Appearances in Swiss Promotion League relegation play-offs
- Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, three appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
- Appearances in EFL Trophy
- Appearances in Championship play-offs
International
- As of match played 12 September 2023[49]
- Italy score listed first, score column indicates score after each Gnonto goal.[49]
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Honours
Zürich
Leeds United
Individual
References
External links
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