# Giuseppe Pezzella

Giuseppe Pezzella (born 29 November 1997) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Serie A club Empoli.

## Club career
### Palermo

Pezzella is a youth product from Palermo. He made his Serie A debut with the senior side on 6 December 2015 against Atalanta, replacing Mato Jajalo after 65 minutes of a 3–0 away defeat.

### Udinese

On 30 June 2017, Pezzella joined Udinese on a five-year contract.

#### Loan to Genoa

On 21 January 2019, Pezzella joined to Genoa on loan with an option to buy until 30 June 2019.

### Parma

On 27 August 2019, Pezzella signed to Parma a five-year contract, but he was on loan until the end of 2019–20 season, with an obligation to buy.

#### Loan to Atalanta

On 27 July 2021, Pezzella moved to Atalanta on a season-long loan with option to buy, which would have become an obligation to buy if certain conditions were met.

#### Loan to Lecce

On 26 August 2022, Pezzella was loaned by Lecce, with an option to buy.

### Empoli

On 31 July 2023, Serie A side Empoli announced the free signing of Pezzella on a three-year contract, with an option for a further year.

## International career

With the Italy U-20 side, Pezzella took part at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, winning the bronze medal. The same year, he was also called up by the Italy U-21 manager Luigi Di Biagio for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, following Nicola Murru's injury, although he did not appear in the tournament. Italy were eliminated by Spain in the semi-finals of the competition on 27 June, following a 3–1 defeat.
Pezzella made his debut with the Italy U21 team on 1 September 2017, in a 3–0 friendly loss against Spain.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 6 October 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Palermo | 2015–16 | Serie A | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 |
| Palermo | 2016–17 | Serie A | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| Palermo | Total | Total | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 0 |
| Udinese | 2017–18 | Serie A | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 0 |
| Udinese | 2018–19 | Serie A | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| Udinese | 2019–20 | Serie A | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Udinese | Total | Total | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 0 |
| Genoa (loan) | 2018–19 | Serie A | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 |
| Parma | 2019–20 | Serie A | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 0 |
| Parma | 2020–21 | Serie A | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 1 |
| Parma | Total | Total | 47 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 49 | 1 |
| Atalanta (loan) | 2021–22 | Serie A | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 0 |
| Lecce (loan) | 2022–23 | Serie A | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 0 |
| Empoli | 2023–24 | Serie A | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 0 |
| Empoli | 2024–25 | Serie A | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Empoli | Total | Total | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 161 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 179 | 1 |
* ↑ Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League