Federico Bernardeschi Bio
Federico Bernardeschi Cavaliere OMRI is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a right winger or attacking midfielder for Serie A club Bologna, where he wears the number 10 shirt. Born in Carrara, Italy, he is widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted Italian players of his generation, known for his elegant dribbling, powerful left foot, and accuracy from set-pieces. He came through the Fiorentina youth system, spent five seasons at Juventus, and later played in Major League Soccer with Toronto FC before returning to Italy.
At international level, Bernardeschi has represented Italy since making his senior debut in 2016. He was a key member of the squad that won UEFA Euro 2020, scoring in the penalty shoot-out of the final against England at Wembley Stadium. He is married to Veronica Ciardi and the couple has two daughters.
Early Life and Background
Federico Bernardeschi was born on 16 February 1994 in Carrara, a city in the Tuscany region of Italy famous for its marble. He grew up in a region with a deep football culture and started playing organized football at the age of six with local club Atletico Carrara. After a year there, he moved to Ponzano, a football school linked to Empoli, where coaches quickly noticed his natural talent and technical ability.
In 2003, at the age of nine, Bernardeschi joined the Fiorentina youth system and was placed in the Pulcini age group. He would spend the next ten years developing through the ranks of one of Italy’s most respected academies. During his adolescence, he also experienced a period of heart problems at around the age of 16, a struggle he has spoken about publicly since 2019.
Throughout his formative years, Bernardeschi drew inspiration from Italian football icons such as Francesco Totti, Giancarlo Antognoni, Roberto Baggio, and Alessandro Del Piero, players he has cited as his idols. He has also mentioned Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko as a major influence during his youth.
Path to Professional Soccer
Bernardeschi’s pathway to professional football began with his steady rise through the Fiorentina youth categories. After a decade in the academy, the club decided in 2013 to send him on loan to Crotone of Serie B to give him regular senior experience. He made his professional debut on 8 September 2013 against Pescara, coming on as a substitute at the age of 19.
During the 2013–14 season at Crotone, Bernardeschi made 39 appearances and scored 12 goals, a strong return that highlighted his finishing and creativity. Crotone exercised an option to acquire half of his contract in co-ownership at the end of that campaign, but Fiorentina redeemed the remaining share in June 2014 and inserted him into their first team under coach Vincenzo Montella.
His time at Fiorentina allowed him to transition from promising prospect to established Serie A player. He made his Serie A debut on 14 September 2014 in a home draw against Genoa and his European debut shortly afterwards in the Europa League against Guingamp, scoring his first goal for the club in that match.
Federico Bernardeschi Career
Early Career (2013–2014)
Bernardeschi’s first taste of senior football came during the 2013–14 campaign on loan at Crotone in Serie B. The move was designed to expose him to the physical and tactical demands of regular professional football, and he responded emphatically. His 12 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions established him as one of the most exciting young attacking players in the Italian second division.
The loan spell not only refined his finishing but also his understanding of defensive responsibility and game management. By the end of the season, Fiorentina were convinced of his readiness for the top flight and brought him back to Tuscany to integrate him into the first team.
Fiorentina Breakthrough (2014–2017)
Back at Fiorentina for the 2014–15 season, Bernardeschi made his Serie A debut on 14 September 2014 in a 0–0 home draw against Genoa, entering as a substitute in the 57th minute. Four days later, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 Europa League win over Guingamp. An ankle fracture from November 2014 kept him out for a stretch, but he returned to score his first Serie A goal on the final matchday of the season in a 3–0 win over Chievo.
The following season, 2015–16, marked a major step forward. Bernardeschi was awarded the prestigious number 10 shirt, previously worn by the likes of Giancarlo Antognoni and Roberto Baggio. On 26 November 2015, he scored twice in a 2–2 Europa League draw against Basel, announcing his arrival as a player capable of performing on the European stage. He continued to feature prominently for Fiorentina through to 2017, when his performances attracted the attention of several top Italian clubs.
Juventus Era (2017–2022)
On 24 July 2017, Bernardeschi completed a high-profile move to Juventus for a reported fee of €40 million on a five-year deal. Despite media speculation linking him to the number 10 shirt, he chose the number 33, stating he needed to earn the iconic jersey first. He made his Juventus debut on 13 August 2017 in the Supercoppa Italiana against Lazio and his Champions League debut a month later against Barcelona.
His first start for Juventus came on 1 October 2017, against Atalanta, where he scored and also assisted Gonzalo Higuaín in a 2–2 away draw. He scored his first Champions League goal on 5 December 2017 in a 2–0 win over Olympiacos. In February 2018, he returned to Florence with Juventus and silenced hostile home fans with a free-kick goal. He went on to win three consecutive Serie A titles with the club, along with other domestic trophies, and reached his 100th Juventus appearance on 4 July 2020 in a 4–1 win over Torino.
During the 2020–21 season under manager Andrea Pirlo, Bernardeschi was converted into a full-back, showcasing his tactical versatility. Although his time at Juventus had ups and downs, he remained a useful squad member through to the end of his contract in 2022.
Toronto FC Era (2022–2025)
On 15 July 2022, Bernardeschi signed with Major League Soccer club Toronto FC as a designated player on a four-year contract, reuniting with Italian compatriots Lorenzo Insigne and Domenico Criscito. He made an immediate impact on his debut on 23 July 2022 in a 4–0 home win over Charlotte FC, scoring one goal and assisting another, earning a place on the MLS Team of the Week.
Over his three seasons in Canada, Bernardeschi produced several memorable moments. On 1 April 2023, he scored directly from a corner kick, known as an Olympic goal, against Charlotte FC in a 2–2 draw, earning MLS Goal of the Matchday honours. On 18 May 2024, he registered his first MLS hat-trick in a 5–1 win over CF Montréal. On 1 July 2025, Bernardeschi and Toronto FC agreed to a mutual termination of the remainder of his contract.
Bologna Era (2025–Present)
On 19 July 2025, Bernardeschi returned to Italian football by signing with Bologna as a free agent. He was assigned the number 10 shirt, fitting given his technical profile and his stated admiration for past Italian number 10s. His arrival added experience and creativity to a Bologna side that has grown into a consistent Serie A competitor.
Early in his Bologna tenure, Bernardeschi is expected to operate primarily as a right winger or attacking midfielder, the roles in which he has produced his best football throughout his career. His partnership with the squad will be one of the key storylines to watch for the 2025–26 season.
Playing Style and Strengths
Bernardeschi is a quick, strong, creative, and technically gifted player with a strong positional sense and an eye for goal. Predominantly left-footed, he is known for his pace, agility, dribbling ability, and powerful, accurate striking from outside the area. His preferred role is as a right winger or outside forward in a 4–3–3 formation, where he can cut inside onto his stronger foot. Thanks to his tactical versatility, stamina, and defensive work-rate, he has also been deployed as an attacking midfielder, a trequartista, a mezzala, a false 9, and even as a full-back or wing-back.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Bernardeschi’s most iconic moments is his performance in the Euro 2020 final on 11 July 2021, when he scored Italy’s fourth penalty in the shoot-out victory over England at Wembley Stadium. Other milestones include his Olympic goal for Toronto FC in 2023, his first MLS hat-trick in 2024, and his return to Italian football with Bologna in 2025.
Federico Bernardeschi Career Highlights
Across his club career with Fiorentina, Crotone, Juventus, Toronto FC, and Bologna, Bernardeschi has accumulated significant experience at the top levels of Italian and North American football. His trophy haul includes three consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus, the Supercoppa Italiana, and the Coppa Italia, along with multiple deep runs in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.
International Achievements
Bernardeschi won the UEFA European Championship with Italy in 2020 and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Nations League in 2021. He also represented Italy at the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where he was named to the team of the tournament after scoring against Germany and Spain.
Other Performances
At youth level, Bernardeschi featured for Italy from the under-18 to the under-21 teams between 2011 and 2017. He was a member of the Italian senior squad that reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 and was consistently involved in World Cup qualifying campaigns. His versatile performances across multiple competitions have established him as a reliable international figure.
Federico Bernardeschi Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Federico Bernardeschi was born and raised in Carrara, Italy, the same city in which he later married. His upbringing in Tuscany, a region renowned for its artistic and cultural heritage, is often cited as a contributing factor in the elegance of his playing style, which has earned him the nickname Brunelleschi, after the famous Florentine Renaissance architect.
Personal Life
Bernardeschi is married to Veronica Ciardi. The couple’s first daughter, Deva, was born in May 2019, and their second daughter, Lena, was born in May 2021. The couple married on 13 July 2021, Veronica’s birthday, in a ceremony held at the Carrara Cathedral, just two days after Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph at Wembley.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025–26 campaign marks Federico Bernardeschi’s return to Serie A with Bologna after three seasons in Major League Soccer. Following his release from Toronto FC on 1 July 2025, he signed with Bologna on 19 July 2025 and was handed the number 10 shirt, signalling the club’s confidence in his creative role within the team.
Bologna will look to Bernardeschi to provide width, dribbling, and set-piece quality, areas in which he has historically excelled. His experience in high-pressure environments, including Champions League nights and a European Championship final, is expected to add leadership to a young and ambitious squad aiming to build on recent strong Serie A finishes.
Early in the season, attention will focus on how quickly Bernardeschi adapts to the tactical demands of Italian football after his time in North America, and whether he can recapture the form that once made him one of Juventus’s most talked-about signings. His performances will be a key storyline for Bologna and for Italian football followers tracking the veteran’s next chapter.
