Andrea Natali

Andrea Natali
Personal information
Date of birth (2008-01-28) 28 January 2008
Place of birth Milan, Italy
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
AZ
(on loan from Bayer Leverkusen)
Number 14
Youth career
2013–2014 Bologna
2014–2016 Brera
2016–2017 Pont Marina - Almogàvers
2017–2018 Cañada Blanch
2018–2019 Udinese
2019–2020 AC Milan
2020–2021 Espanyol
2021–2024 Barcelona
2024– Bayer Leverkusen
2025–AZ (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2025– Bayer Leverkusen 0 (0)
2025–Jong AZ (loan) 5 (0)
2025–AZ (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2022–2023 Italy U15 13 (0)
2022–2023 Italy U16 4 (0)
2024 Italy U17 9 (0)
2024– Italy U19 11 (0)
2025– Italy U20 5 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Italy
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Winner 2024 Cyprus
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 26 June 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 November 2025

Andrea Natali (born 28 January 2008) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or defensive midfielder for Eredivisie club AZ, on loan from Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.

Early life

Natali moved with his family to Spain as a child.[1]

Club career

He started playing football at the age of six when he joined the youth academy of Bologna, the club where his father played from 2012 to 2014.[2] In the summer of 2014, he joined Brera and after a few seasons with the Neroverdi, he moved abroad, first to Spain and then to England.[2]

Natali joined the youth academy of La Liga side Barcelona at the age of thirteen,[3] after playing in the youth academy of Udinese[4] and AC Milan's youth academy.[2] He has been described as "one of the most promising defenders in the Blaugrana youth team".[5]

On 26 June 2024, Natali joined Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.[6]

On 4 September 2025, he moved to the Netherlands and joined Eredivisie club AZ on a one-year loan, initially assigned to the under-21 team.[7]

International career

Natali has captained the Italy national under-15 football team.[8]

He won the Euros U17 in 2024.

Style of play

Natali mainly operates as a defender and has been described as "stood out for his driving and quality in passing".[9]

Personal life

Natali is the son of Italian former footballer Cesare Natali.[10] He has four siblings.[11]

Honours

Italy U17

References

  1. ^ "Andrea Natali: un centrale di grande fisico e tecnica per il Barça". tuttomercatoweb.com.
  2. ^ a b c "Un Clásico all'italiana, Natali ed Emanuel oltre ogni rivalità: "Siamo diventati amici grazie alla Nazionale"" (in Italian). 29 May 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Andrea Natali - un italiano nella cantera blaugrana" (in Italian). 22 January 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  4. ^ Monica Tosolini (5 June 2024). "Andrea Natali, dalle giovanili dell'Udinese al tetto d'Europa con l'Under17" (in Italian). Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  5. ^ Jordi Carné (14 September 2022). "Andrea Natali, el joven central del Barça que ya lidera la selección italiana" (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Bayer 04 sign rising star Natali from Barcelona" (Press release). Bayer 04 Leverkusen. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Bayer verleiht Top-Talent Natali an AZ Alkmaar" (in German). 4 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Andrea Natali - Bergamo News article". 28 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Andrea Natali - Sport.es article". 12 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Figlio d'arte coi piedi da Barça: Andrea Natali". gazzetta.it. 23 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Natali: dal Milan al Barcellona, un italiano nella Masìa". calciomercato.com. 29 April 2023.
  12. ^ "UEFA Under-17 EURO final report: Italy 3-0 Portugal". UEFA. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.