Giacomo Vrioni

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    Giacomo Vrioni Bio

    Giacomo Vrioni (Albanian: Xhakomo Vrioni; born 15 October 1998) is an Italian-born professional footballer who represents the Albania national team. Standing 188 cm tall, he plays as a forward and has built his career across Italian, Austrian, and North American leagues. Known for his finishing, link-up play, and ability to score in decisive moments, Vrioni has represented clubs in Serie A, Serie B, Serie C, the Austrian Bundesliga, and Major League Soccer.

    Born in Italy to an Albanian family, Vrioni switched his international allegiance to Albania in 2018 and has since featured for the senior national team. His professional journey has included loan spells that shaped his development, a Serie A debut with one of Italy’s biggest clubs, and a standout MLS campaign in the United States.

    Early Life and Background

    Giacomo Vrioni was born on 15 October 1998 in San Severino Marche, a town in the province of Macerata in central Italy. He grew up in a region with a strong football culture, and his Albanian heritage, linked to the Vrioni family of Albania, would later shape his international career choices.

    Vrioni’s early football experience came in the lower tiers of Italian football. Before joining a major youth academy, he played for Matelica in Serie D, where he made four appearances. Those early senior minutes gave him a foothold in the professional game and prepared him for a move into a top-flight development system.

    Path to Professional Soccer

    In January 2015, Vrioni joined the Sampdoria youth system, where he spent two and a half years developing as a forward. Across the Sampdoria youth ranks, he featured in 58 matches, scored 20 goals, and recorded six assists, earning recognition as a promising striker. He was named to the first-team bench on two occasions during the 2016-17 season, once in Serie A against Palermo and once in the Coppa Italia against Cagliari, without making his senior debut for the club.

    On 20 July 2017, Vrioni was loaned to Serie C side Pistoiese for the season, marking his first sustained spell in senior professional football. He made his Serie C debut on 17 September 2017 as a substitute against Pro Piacenza and scored his first professional goal in the same match. On 17 December 2017, he recorded his first career hat-trick in a 3-1 home win over Gavorrano, finishing the loan with 27 appearances, eight goals, and four assists.

    His performances at Pistoiese earned him a Serie B loan to Venezia for the 2018-19 season, where he made 25 appearances, including 11 starts, scoring once and adding two assists. He then joined Cittadella on loan in July 2019, though his time there was cut short in January 2020 when he was recalled by Sampdoria after only five appearances.

    Giacomo Vrioni Career

    Early Career (2014-2019)

    Vrioni began his senior career with Matelica in Serie D during the 2014-15 season, where his four appearances offered a first taste of competitive men’s football. His move to Sampdoria’s youth setup in January 2015 marked the start of a structured development path at a top Italian club.

    Across his three loan spells at Pistoiese, Venezia, and Cittadella between 2017 and 2020, Vrioni gained experience across Serie C and Serie B, scoring his first professional goal, recording his first hat-trick, and adapting to the physical demands of senior football in Italy.

    Juventus Era (2020-2022)

    On 30 January 2020, Vrioni signed with Juventus for an undisclosed fee and was initially assigned to the club’s reserve side, Juventus U23, which competed in Serie C. He made his senior Juventus debut on 1 August 2020, appearing as a second-half substitute for Gonzalo Higuaín in a 3-1 home defeat to Roma, which was also his Serie A debut.

    On 27 November 2020, Vrioni suffered a fibula injury that kept him out for five months. He returned to action on 25 April 2021, scoring the winning goal from the penalty spot in a 1-0 home win over Carrarese. On 5 July 2021, he was loaned to Austrian Bundesliga side WSG Tirol, where he debuted on 17 July with a goal in a 3-0 Austrian Cup win over Leobendorf.

    New England Revolution Era (2022-2024)

    On 5 July 2022, Vrioni signed a three-year deal with Major League Soccer side New England Revolution in a reported transfer worth close to $4 million. His league debut came on 23 July 2022 as a substitute against Columbus Crew. Injuries limited his first season, but on 1 October 2022, he made his first MLS start and scored his first goal for the club from the penalty spot against Atlanta United.

    Vrioni emerged as a key figure for the Revolution in 2023. He opened his account on 9 April 2023 with a goal in a 4-0 home win over CF Montréal, then scored a brace against Sporting Kansas City on 23 April. On 26 July 2023, he recorded his first hat-trick for the club in a 5-1 Leagues Cup victory over Atlético San Luis, the first hat-trick scored by a New England Revolution player in an international competition. He finished the 2023 regular season as the Revolution’s golden boot winner with nine goals.

    CF Montréal Era (2025)

    On 7 January 2025, Vrioni was acquired by CF Montréal for $50,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money. He made his debut for the club on 12 April 2025 in a 1-0 loss to Charlotte FC, then scored his first goal for Montréal on 30 April with a volley against Toronto FC in the preliminary round of the 2025 Canadian Championship. His first MLS league goal for Montréal came on 3 May in a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Union.

    Vrioni was released by CF Montréal at the end of their 2025 season.

    Notable Events and Milestones

    Among Vrioni’s most memorable moments are his Serie A debut with Juventus against Roma, his first professional hat-trick with Pistoiese against Gavorrano, and his Leagues Cup hat-trick for the New England Revolution against Atlético San Luis. The latter feat was the first hat-trick scored by a Revolution player in an international competition, a record he dedicated to the daughter of goalkeeper Brad Knighton following her passing earlier that month.

    Giacomo Vrioni Career Wins

    Giacomo Vrioni’s career wins include team honours with Juventus and Juventus U23. At club level, his most prolific scoring season came with the New England Revolution in 2023, when he finished as the club’s leading scorer with nine regular-season goals.

    Club Honours

    Vrioni is credited with honours won at both Juventus and Juventus U23 during his time in Turin. His individual scoring milestones include a first professional hat-trick with Pistoiese in 2017 and a first MLS hat-trick with New England Revolution in 2023.

    Other Wins and Performances

    Outside his top-flight spells, Vrioni delivered decisive goals in cup competitions, including his debut goal for WSG Tirol in the Austrian Cup in 2021 and a late equalizer for CF Montréal against Toronto FC in the 2025 Canadian Championship. His brace against Sporting Kansas City and game-winning goals against Toronto FC and Atlanta United highlighted his importance in the Revolution’s 2023 campaign.

    Giacomo Vrioni Family

    Family Background and Albanian Heritage

    Vrioni was born in Italy to a family of Albanian origin. His decision in September 2018 to switch his international allegiance from Italy to Albania reflected that heritage, and he has been linked to the Vrioni family of Albania throughout his international career.

    Personal Life

    Public details about Vrioni’s personal life beyond his football career are limited. He has represented himself professionally through his performances on the pitch and remains based in the cities of his current and former clubs.

    2025 Season Performance

    Giacomo Vrioni began the 2025 season with CF Montréal after being acquired in January. His first appearance came on 12 April against Charlotte FC, and he quickly opened his account with a volley against Toronto FC in the Canadian Championship. His first MLS league goal for the club followed on 3 May against the Philadelphia Union.

    Vrioni’s role with Montréal offered a fresh opportunity to establish himself in a new environment after a standout 2023 campaign in New England. His ability to score in cup and league fixtures provided early contributions, though the club ultimately opted to release him at the end of the 2025 season.

    Looking ahead, Vrioni’s mix of Serie A experience, MLS production, and international pedigree with Albania positions him as an attractive option for clubs seeking a proven forward in European or North American leagues.