The 28-year-old right-back, who joined Chelsea in 2017, has most recently played on loan at Roma. Unfortunately soon after joining the Serie A side last season he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his knee.He did however recover from surgery in time to make six appearances in the Italian top tier before the end of the season there, taking his total appearances for Roma to eight.

His new loan club, Genoa, finished 17th in Serie A last season.

At Chelsea, Zappacosta has started 34 games and made a further 18 substitute appearances, with the majority of those coming in his first season. Known for his attacking play down the flank and ability to deliver dangerous balls from wide areas, he has scored twice, including a highly memorable goal on his first Chelsea start. From way out wide near the touchline having charged down the wing, he found the net against Qarabag in a Champions League group-stage game. A league goal followed in a big win against Stoke City in our final game of 2017.

The Italian’s involvement during the 2018/19 campaign was in the domestic cup competitions and Europa League. Two of our three goals in a Carabao Cup win over Frank Lampard’s Derby County side came from Zappacosta crosses, and he was brought on during the semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt and the final against Arsenal in Baku at the end of our triumphant European campaign.

He was won 13 caps for Italy, the most recent two years ago.