Ciro Immobile
Ciro Immobile is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Paris FC.
Immobile began his career at Sorrento. In 2009, he was purchased by Juventus, and was later loaned out to three Serie B clubs, including [Delfino Delfino Pescara 1936|Pescara 1936|Pescara], with whom he won the league title as the top scorer, before moving to Genoa in 2012. After a season with the club, he moved to Juventus' rivals Torino, where he won the Capocannoniere award for the top scorer in Serie A. After his breakout season at Torino, he was sold to German club Borussia Dortmund for around β¬18 million in 2014, where they won the DFL-Supercup, before moving to Spanish club Sevilla in 2015. In 2016, he returned to Torino on loan, and was later sold to Lazio in July of that year.
At Lazio, Immobile won a Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana titles, and is currently the club's all-time highest goalscorer. In his second season at Lazio, he won the Capocannoniere for a second time, with 29 goals in 33 games. The 2019β20 season was the most prolific of Immobile's career; he equalled the record for most Serie A goals in a season with 36, and won a third Capocannoniere title and first European Golden Shoe, given to the top scorer in Europe. In 2022, he won the Capocannoniere for a fourth time, with 27 goals in 31 games. Overall, Immobile managed to score 120 goals at the Stadio Olimpico - more than any other player at a single stadium used in Italy's top flight. He currently sits eighth in the all-time list of Serie A top scorers.
Immobile made his debut for the Italy national team in 2014, and was included in the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and two UEFA European Championships, winning the latter tournament.
Club career
Sorrento and Juventus
Born in Torre Annunziata, in the province of Naples, Immobile began his youth career in the football school "Torre Annunziata '88", before transferring to "Maria Rosa" and finally the youth team of Salernitana, where however, he failed to emerge. He later joined Sorrento, with whom he scored 30 goals in the under-17 during the 2007β08 season, including a brace against Torino, impressing the observers of Juventus.In 2008, he was signed at the age of 18 for β¬80,000 by Juventus under the recommendation of Ciro Ferrara. He went on to play with the Primavera formation.
Immobile joined the Primavera squad in 2009, where he formed a striking partnership with Ayub Daud, that led the squad to win the 2009 Torneo di Viareggio, where he scored a total five goals; two of which came in the final.
On 14 March 2009, Immobile made his Serie A debut in a 4β1 home win against Bologna, replacing Juventus' captain Alessandro Del Piero in the 89th minute.
On 25 November 2009, Immobile also made his debut in a European competition, once again as a second-half substitute for Del Piero in a Champions League game against Bordeaux. In February 2010, he scored a hat-trick against Empoli in the 2010 Torneo di Viareggio final to seal the title for a second consecutive season.
Loans to Siena and Grosseto
On 1 July 2010, Immobile, along with teammate Luca Marrone, were sent on loan to recently relegated Serie B side A.C. Siena. In exchange for the two loans, Juventus acquired NiccolΓ² Giannetti, Leonardo Spinazzola, and Austrian midfielder Marcel BΓΌchel on loan from the Tuscan club. Immobile never broke into the first team, however, and in January 2011, he left Siena, after just 4 appearances and 1 goal. Following his departure from Siena, he was immediately loaned by Juventus to Grosseto, another Serie B club for the remainder of the 2010β11 Serie B season.Loan to Pescara
On 17 August 2011, it was announced that Immobile would join Serie B club Pescara on a season-long loan from Juventus. He scored his first goal for the club on 26 August during his debut for Pescara in the first league match against Hellas Verona. By the end of the 2011β12 Serie B andata, Immobile had already scored 14 league goals. On 30 January 2012, Genoa confirmed that they had paid β¬4 million for half of the player's rights from Juventus, following his mercurial form in Serie B. He completed his season with Pescara in the Italian second division, as the club won the league title and sealed promotion to Serie A. He also went on to become the Serie B season's top scorer with a total of 28 goals, seven more than the second-highest scorer, Juve Stabia's Marco Sau. Immobile was also named Serie B's Player of the Year at the 2012 AIC Gran Gala del Calcio, alongside teammates Lorenzo Insigne and Marco Verratti.Genoa
Immobile formally became a Genoa player on 1 July 2012 after the loan with Pescara expired. On 19 June 2013, Genoa and Juventus again renewed the co-ownership agreements of Immobile and Richmond Boakye.Torino
On 12 July 2013 Juventus bought Genoa's half of Immobile for β¬2.75 million. On the same day he was sold to city-rivals Torino under a new co-ownership deal for β¬2.75 million.He made his debut for Torino during the first round of the Coppa Italia against former club Pescara, scoring his first goal of the season. He provided an assist in his Serie A debut for the club, but did not score until 7 October in a 2β2 draw against Sampdoria. Previously, Immobile had failed to score in Serie A since December 2012. The goal signalled a run of form for Immobile, with the player scoring a further 12 goals in his next 15 matches, including his first brace in Serie A during a game against Chievo Verona in December.
On 22 March 2014, Immobile scored his first Serie A hat-trick, in a 3β1 win against Livorno. Three days later, he scored a spectacular volley with his left foot against Roma, temporarily bringing the Granata level at the Stadio Olimpico. On 6 April, he scored the winning goal against Catania in a 2β1 victory.
On 13 April, Genoa were leading 1β0, when Immobile and Alessio Cerci both scored in stoppage time to give Torino a 2β1 win. He scored again in the following round in a 3β3 draw away to Lazio. On 27 April, Immobile scored for the sixth consecutive match in a 2β0 defeat of Udinese. This took him to 21 goals in the season, equaling the seasonal goal records of Paolo Pulici and Francesco Graziani at Torino.
On 11 May, Immobile scored in the penultimate fixture of the season against Parma, but was sent off in the second half and suspended for the final match against Fiorentina. He concluded his season with 22 goals in 33 appearances, plus one goal in the Coppa Italia. He became the first Torino player to win the Capocannoniere since Francesco Graziani in the 1976β77 season.
Borussia Dortmund
On 2 June 2014, Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund announced the signing of Immobile, despite the co-ownership agreement between Torino and Juventus not being resolved. Urbano Cairo, the president of Torino, accused Juventus and Dortmund of violating FIFA regulation regarding transfer on 10 May 2014, which FIGC also states that such transfers must have mutual consent of the co-owners. Cairo also wanted to keep Immobile for at least a season for sports and for profit. On 18 June 2014, Juventus sold the remaining 50% registration rights of Immobile to Torino for β¬8.035 million. Torino later revealed in its financial filing, that the transfer fee to the German side was β¬17.955 million. On 13 August, Immobile made his Dortmund debut, starting in the 2014 DFL-Supercup against Bayern Munich, with Dortmund winning 2β0.Immobile made his Bundesliga debut on 23 August in the opening match of Dortmund's 2014β15 Bundesliga campaign which saw them lose 2β0 to Bayer Leverkusen at home. On 16 September, Immobile scored his first goal for the club, opening a 2β0 home win over Arsenal in the group stages of the Champions League.
He scored four goals in six Champions League matches, in a 3β0 away win over Anderlecht, in a 4β1 home win over Galatasaray and in a 1β1 home draw vs Anderlecht, with Borussia qualifying as first from the group. On 17 December 2014, Immobile assisted the first goal and scored the second on a 2β2 home draw with Wolfsburg.
Sevilla
On 12 July 2015, Immobile joined Sevilla on a season-long loan after scoring just three goals in the league in his first season at Borussia Dortmund, with a total 10 goals in 34 matches across all competitions. Sevilla also had an option to sign him outright. He made his debut for the club on 11 August 2015, coming off the bench to replace Kevin Gameiro in the 80th minute of the 2015 UEFA Super Cup final, against Barcelona, and assisting Yevhen Konoplyanka's temporary equaliser to send the match into extra-time; Barcelona went on to win the match 5β4.On 31 July 2015, Immobile was stretchered off the pitch wearing an oxygen mask and a neck brace after playing just five minutes in a friendly against Watford at Vicarage Road after clashing heads with an opponent. He was taken to the hospital for tests and was in recovering condition. It was later determined his nasal septum ruptured, which looked like a major injury, but turned out to be only minor. On 8 November 2015, Immobile scored his first goal for Sevilla in the 36th minute as they emerged victorious in a 3β2 La Liga home win over Real Madrid. In November, the obligation to buy clause was exercised when Immobile made his fifth appearance, buying him outright for β¬11 million plus the β¬3 million for the loan spell.
Loan to Torino
On 14 January 2016, Immobile returned to Torino on loan until the end of 2015β16 season. Two days later on his return debut, he scored the opening goal of a 4β2 home victory over Frosinone. On 14 February, he scored a brace, in a 3β1 win away against Palermo. On 22 March, it was determined he sustained a muscular injury at the half time mark in a derby with Juventus two days prior, and would be sidelined for a month.Lazio
On 27 July 2016, Immobile signed with Lazio for a fee of β¬8.75 million. On 21 August, Immobile scored on his debut in Lazio's opening match of a 4β3 away win over Atalanta. Immobile finished the season with 23 league goals in 36 appearances plus 3 goals in the Coppa Italia, surpassing his total when he won the Capocannoniere with Torino in the 2013β14 season, though this time he did not win the Capocannoniere, losing it to Bosnian striker Edin DΕΎeko of cross-town rivals Roma, who scored 29 league goals.On 13 August 2017, Immobile scored the opening two goals of the Supercoppa Italiana; Lazio won with a final score of 3β2 over Juventus. On 10 September, in Lazio's third match of the season, he scored a hat-trick and got an assist in a 4β1 home win over Milan. On 21 October, Immobile extended with Lazio until 2022. On 6 January 2018, Immobile scored four goals in the first half away to SPAL, the first Lazio player to score multiple hat-tricks in a season in 16 years; Lazio eventually won the match 5β2. On 22 February 2018, Immobile scored a hat-trick in the Europa League round of 32 second leg home to Steaua BucureΘti in a 5β1 win, which allowed Lazio to qualify, 5β2 on aggregate, to the round of 16. On 31 March 2018, Immobile scored twice in Lazio's 6β2 home win over Benevento, his 36th goal of the season, breaking Giorgio Chinaglia's previous record for most goals scored by a Lazio player in a single season, by two goals. Immobile ended the season with 29 goals in 33 appearances, winning the Capocannoniere jointly with Inter's Mauro Icardi. Immobile also ended the 2017β2018 season as UEFA Europa League's top scorer with 8 goals, jointly with Aritz Aduriz.
On 3 November 2019, he scored his 100th goal for Lazio in a 2β1 away win over Milan. On 26 July 2020, Immobile scored a hat-trick in a 5β1 win against Hellas Verona. Immobile finished the season with 36 goals, winning the Capocannoniere and equaling Gonzalo HiguaΓn's all-time record for most goals in a Serie A season. He also won the European Golden Shoe for the first time in his career, becoming the first Italian player or player from Serie A to win the award since Francesco Totti in 2007. Moreover, he set a new record for most penalties scored in a single Serie A season, with 14.
On 31 August 2020, Immobile signed a five-year contract extension with Lazio. On 20 October 2020, he scored his first Champions League goal for Lazio in a 3β1 win over his former club Borussia Dortmund in the 2020β21 season. On 12 May 2021, Immobile scored the only goal of a 1β0 home win over Parma in Serie A; this was his 150th goal for Lazio across all competitions.
On 30 October 2021, the Italian striker netted his 159th career goal for the Biancocelesti in a 2β1 win victory over Atalanta, drawing level with Silvio Piola's all-time club goal record. On 4 November, Immobile scored against Marseille in the UEFA Europa League to become Lazio's all-time leading goalscorer, surpassing Silvio Piola, with 160. With this goal, the Italian striker also became the club's all-time top scorer in the Europa League ; he surpassed former striker Pierluigi Casiraghi, who had scored 10 times in the competition for Lazio. On 7 November, with a goal against Salernitana in a 3β0 victory, Immobile became the first Lazio player to score 10+ goals in six consecutive Serie A seasons.
On 6 January 2022, by scoring a goal in a 3β3 draw against Empoli, Immobile became just the fourth player in Serie A history to score 15 goals in the league in seven separate seasons. On 5 March, he made his 200th appearance for Lazio in Serie A, in which he scored a penalty against Cagliari in a 3β0 away victory. In addition, with his goal against the Rossoblu, he matched Silvio Piola's goal record with Lazio in Serie A and became the third player to ever score 20 or more Serie A goals in six different seasons.On 16 April, he scored in the stoppage time in a 1β1 draw against Torino, which was his 180th Serie A goal, matching Sampdoria veteran Fabio Quagliarella at 13th in the league's all-time top scorers list. In addition, he became the first Italian player in Serie A history to score at least 25 goals in three separate league campaigns and reached 30+ goals in all competitions for a third time in his career. On 24 April, by scoring in a 2β1 defeat against Milan, Immobile became just the fourth player in Europe's top five leagues to score more than 25 goals in a league season at least three times since the 2016β17 season, joining Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
On 19 February 2023, Immobile scored two goals against Salernitana in a 2β0 away win, reaching at 8th in the league's all-time goalscorers, surpassing Kurt Hamrin. On 14 April, he netted a penalty in a 3β0 away win over Spezia, to become the third player to score 10 goals in seven consecutive seasons with the same club, after Francesco Totti and Antonio Di Natale.
On 7 November 2023, Immobile scored his 200th Lazio goal in a 1β0 home win against Feyenoord in the 2023β24 UEFA Champions League. On 10 February 2024, Immobile scored his 200th goal in Serie A in a 3β1 away win over Cagliari. Four days later, he converted a penalty in a 1β0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League round of 16 first leg, to be his first ever goal in the knockout phase of the competition, in addition to securing Lazio's first ever win against that opponent, and their first victory in the knockout stages since the 1999β2000 season. However, he eventually managed to score only eleven goals in all competitions, including seven Serie A goals in the 2023β24 season.
BeΕiktaΕ
On 13 July 2024, Immobile and SΓΌper Lig club BeΕiktaΕ agreed on contract terms. He signed a contract to stay with the club until June 2026. A month later, on 3 August, he scored a brace and was named player of the match in a 5β0 victory over Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Cup.On 18 August 2024, on the second matchday of the SΓΌper Lig, he scored a brace against Antalyaspor, securing a 4β2 victory for BeΕiktaΕ. Immobile scored 10 goals in his first 10 games for BeΕiktaΕ and is the first player since the 2007β08 season to score five goals in the first six matches of the league.
Bologna
On 10 July 2025, Immobile signed with Serie A club Bologna.International career
2010s
On 2 March 2014, Immobile received his first call-up to the senior national team by Cesare Prandelli, for a friendly match against Spain three days later. He debuted as a substitute for Alessio Cerci after 69 minutes as Spain eventually won 1β0.On 13 May 2014, Immobile was named in Italy's provisional 30-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and on 1 June he was named in the final 23-man squad. On 8 June, he scored a hat-trick in Italy's final World Cup warm-up match, a 5β3 unofficial win over Brazilian club side Fluminense. Immobile made his competitive debut in Italy's opening 2β1 victory over England in Manaus on 14 June, playing the last 17 minutes in place of Mario Balotelli who scored the Italian winner. He scored his first official international goal in the third minute of a 2β0 friendly victory against the Netherlands on 4 September 2014.
On 31 May 2016, Immobile was named to Antonio Conte's 23-man Italy squad for UEFA Euro 2016.
2020s
In June 2021, Immobile was included in Italy's squad for UEFA Euro 2020 by manager Roberto Mancini. In the opening match of the tournament on 11 June, he scored Italy's second goal and assisted Insigne for his team's final goal in a 3β0 win over Turkey. In the following group match on 16 June, Immobile scored Italy's third goal in a 3β0 victory over Switzerland. In the semi-final against Spain on 6 July, he assisted the opening goal scored in the second half by Federico Chiesa of a 1β1 draw, before being substituted by Domenico Berardi; after extra-time, Italy advanced to the final of the tournament following a 4β2 penalty shoot-out victory. On 11 July, Immobile won the European Championship with Italy following a 3β2 penalty shoot-out victory over England at Wembley Stadium in the final, after a 1β1 draw in extra-time; Immobile started the match, but was once again replaced by Berardi during the second half of regulation time.In September 2023, new manager Luciano Spalletti announced Immobile as the new captain of Italy, replacing Leonardo Bonucci. However, he was excluded from the squad for the UEFA Euro 2024.
Style of play
Although primarily a main striker, Immobile is capable of playing anywhere along the front-line. A quick forward, Immobile is primarily known for his offensive movement off the ball, as well as his ability to make attacking runs and exploit spaces. He will often drift wide, from a central position, when making forward runs, allowing him to ghost in behind the defensive line where he can cut in to shoot, usually into the far post. His main characteristics are his eye for goal and finishing ability with either foot, as well as his physical attributes; he also possesses solid technique, and is effective in the air. In addition to his offensive capabilities and goalscoring ability, he is also a hard-working player, known for his willingness to chase down the ball and press opponents when not in possession; he also possesses good link-up play, which enables him to provide assists for teammates, in addition to scoring goals himself. He is also an accurate penalty taker. One of the most prolific strikers of his generation, his goalscoring record and efficiency has earned him the nickname "King Ciro" with the Lazio supporters.Personal life
In May 2014, Immobile and his long-time girlfriend Jessica Melena married. They have four children. Immobile is a great fan of Formula One racing and participated in the third stage of the "Race For The World" directed on Sky and organized by Charles Leclerc to raise funds to be allocated to the fight against COVID-19.On 16 April 2023, Immobile, accompanied by his two daughters, suffered a spinal cord sprain and a fractured rib following a collision of his car with a tram near Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Career statistics
International
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 4 September 2014 | Stadio San Nicola, Bari, Italy | 5 | 1β0 | 2β0 | Friendly | |
| 2 | 5 September 2016 | Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel | 16 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 3 | 9 October 2016 | Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia | 18 | 2β2 | 3β2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 4 | 9 October 2016 | Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia | 18 | 3β2 | 3β2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 5 | 12 November 2016 | Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein | 19 | 2β0 | 4β0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 6 | 24 March 2017 | Stadio Renzo Barbera, Palermo, Italy | 21 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 7 | 5 September 2017 | Mapei Stadium β CittΓ del Tricolore, Reggio Emilia, Italy | 26 | 1β0 | 1β0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 8 | 8 September 2019 | Tampere Stadium, Tampere, Finland | 37 | 1β0 | 2β1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | |
| 9 | 18 November 2019 | Stadio Renzo Barbera, Palermo, Italy | 39 | 1β0 | 9β1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | |
| 10 | 18 November 2019 | Stadio Renzo Barbera, Palermo, Italy | 39 | 4β0 | 9β1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | |
| 11 | 25 March 2021 | Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma, Italy | 43 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 12 | 31 March 2021 | LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania | 45 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 13 | 4 June 2021 | Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna, Italy | 46 | 1β0 | 4β0 | Friendly | |
| 14 | 11 June 2021 | Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy | 47 | 2β0 | 3β0 | UEFA Euro 2020 | |
| 15 | 16 June 2021 | Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy | 48 | 3β0 | 3β0 | UEFA Euro 2020 | |
| 16 | 15 June 2023 | De Grolsch Veste, Enschede, Netherlands | 56 | 1β1 | 1β2 | 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals | |
| 17 | 9 September 2023 | ToΕ‘e Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 57 | 1β0 | 1β1 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
Honours
Juventus YouthPescara
Borussia Dortmund
Lazio
BeΕiktaΕ
Italy
Individual
- Torneo di Viareggio top scorer: 2010
- Torneo di Viareggio Best Player: 2010
- Serie B Footballer of the Year: 2012
- Serie B top scorer: 2011β12
- Capocannoniere: 2013β14, 2017β18, 2019β20, 2021β22
- Serie A Team of the Year: 2013β14, 2017β18, 2019β20, 2021β22
- UEFA Europa League top scorer: 2017β18
- UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2017β18
- Serie A Player of the Month: October 2019
- European Golden Shoe: 2019β20
- Serie A Best Forward: 2019β20, 2021β22
- Lazio Player of the Season: 2019β20
- Italian Sportsman of the Year: 2020
- Turkish Super Cup Man of the Match: 2024