.jpg) Borini playing forAC Milan in 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Fabio Borini[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1991-03-29)29 March 1991 (age 34) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Bentivoglio, Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Salford City | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2007 | Bologna | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | Chelsea | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Chelsea | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | →Swansea City (loan) | 9 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Parma | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | →Roma (loan) | 8 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Roma | 16 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Liverpool | 25 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | →Sunderland (loan) | 32 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2018 | Sunderland | 50 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | →AC Milan (loan) | 29 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | AC Milan | 22 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Hellas Verona | 14 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2023 | Fatih Karagümrük | 71 | (31) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2025 | Sampdoria | 33 | (9) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Salford City | 10 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Italy U16 | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Italy U17 | 7 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | Italy U19 | 11 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2013 | Italy U21 | 18 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Italy | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:45 04 January 2026 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Fabio Borini (born 29 March 1991) is an Italian professionalfootballer who plays as anattacking midfielder,left winger orforward forEFL League Two clubSalford City.
Borini started his career atBologna, before moving toChelsea in 2007. In 2011, he joinedChampionship sideSwansea City on loan, and eventually signed forRoma, before moving toLiverpool in 2012. He spent the2013–14 season on loan atSunderland, and after a season back at Liverpool he joined Sunderland permanently in August 2015.
Borini made his senior international debut in 2012, and was an unused member of theItalian squad that reached theEuro 2012 final.
Borini first started playing football at the age of eight and was raised supporting the local clubBologna. He joined Bologna in 2001, as a youth player.[3]
Borini joinedChelsea in the summer of 2007 from Bologna. During the 2008–09 season, he was made first choice striker for reserves. He was the top scorer for the reserves with 10 goals from 11 appearances.[4] Borini scored againstManchester United in the FA Youth Cup.[4]
On 1 September 2009, he was added toCarlo Ancelotti's Champions League squad and he made the bench againstPorto. He made the substitutes bench again a few days later on 20 September, replacingNicolas Anelka in the 89th minute to make his first team debut for Chelsea againstTottenham Hotspur.[3] His full debut came againstQueens Park Rangers in theLeague Cup third round.[5] On 8 December 2009, Borini made his Champions League debut in the 2–2 draw againstAPOEL. He played his firstFA Cup game againstWatford in the third round, coming on in the 70th minute forDaniel Sturridge as the Blues won 5–0.[6] Borini underwent a hernia operation which put him out of action for quite some time.[7]
Captain Borini scored five times to bring Chelsea Reserves back from 0–3 against West Bromwich Albion Reserves on 20 October 2010. Chelsea Reserves won the match 5–4.[8]
On 17 March 2011, Borini joinedChampionship sideSwansea City on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season.[9] He linked up with his former Chelsea youth team bossBrendan Rodgers. Borini began his loan spell with the Swans by scoring a brace againstNottingham Forest. On 9 April 2011, he opened the scoring againstNorwich City, with a free kick in a match which the Swans went on to win 3–0. He scored again during the Swans 2–1 loss toBurnley atTurf Moor and bagged another brace during the 4–1 defeat ofIpswich Town at theLiberty Stadium.
On 18 May 2011, Borini confirmed that he would not be coming back to Chelsea at the end of his loan spell with Swansea.[10] He insisted he would not make a decision on his future until after the Championship play-off final.[11] In the Championship play-off final, Borini won the penalty which secured a 4–2 lead and a return to English football's top flight for the Swans.
It emerged in the days following the play-off final that Borini had signed a pre-contract agreement withSerie A sideParma, in his home region ofEmilia-Romagna, before he had even joined Swansea on loan. According to his agent,Marco De Marchi, Borini has secured a five-year contract with the club.[12] Parma confirmed the deal on 2 July 2011.[13] Parma also paid Chelsea atraining compensation of €347,500.[14] Chelsea sued Parma to FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber, which on 28 August 2012 the chamber ordered Parma to pay €337,500 plus 5% interests counting from 31 August 2011.[15] A scheduled payment was agreed on 18 April 2013.[14]
On 31 August 2011, Borini signed for Italian clubRoma on loan for €1.25 million, with an option to buy for €7 million.[16] Borini signed a 1+4-year contract, which he would earn €1 million in gross in first season but increased to €2.3 million in 2012–13 and ultimately €3.4 million in 2015–16.
He made his first official appearance for Roma in the 2–1 loss at home toCagliari, replacingPablo Osvaldo in the 80th minute. The following week, he made his first start againstInter Milan in the 0–0 draw at theSan Siro. He scored his first goal with his new team in the 2–1 away loss againstGenoa. He then scored his first goal in theCoppa Italia againstFiorentina in Roma's 3–0 victory. Borini scored his second goal as a Roma player againstCesena in Roma's 5–1 victory. Borini was bought from Parma on aco-ownership deal for €2.3 million[17] on 23 January 2012. Moreover, Roma also paid agent Andrea Rosso €150,000 who broke the deal, as well as sentStefano Okaka to Parma in a temporary deal with the option to sign half of the "card" for €300,000. On 5 February, he scored two goals against Inter in a 4–0 victory. He scored an equaliser in a derby againstLazio, and he scored a winner againstPalermo on 12 March. On 23 June, Roma paid Parma €5.3 million on blind auction, and signed the other 50% of Borini's rights.
.jpg)
On 9 July 2012, it was reported that Borini would becomeBrendan Rodgers' first signing asLiverpool manager, with the player expected to join before a pre-season tour of North America.[18] On 12 July, it was reported that a deal had been reached between the two clubs, and on 13 July Borini officially completed his transfer to Liverpool, and requested to wear the number 29 shirt.[19][20] On 13 July, Roma announced the fee was €13.3 million including bonuses (equivalent to about £10.5 million).[21] After his move, Borini revealed that Italy teammateMario Balotelli was responsible for urging him to join Liverpool, because Balotelli claimed the club [Liverpool] has the most exciting fans.[22]
On 9 August, Borini scored his first goal for Liverpool during his first game atAnfield, in the second leg of aEuropa League match againstGomel, in the 21st minute.[23] He made hisPremier League debut on 18 August 2012, starting in a 3–0 loss againstWest Bromwich Albion atThe Hawthorns.[24]
In October 2012, Liverpool confirmed that Borini would miss the next three months due to a broken foot which he initially suffered in a game againstManchester United.[25] Borini made his comeback for Liverpool on 9 January 2013, replacingRaheem Sterling as a second-half substitute away toManchester United.[26]
On 17 February 2013, Borini suffered a dislocated shoulder after a collision with Swansea City'sKyle Bartley only eight minutes after being brought on as a substitute forLuis Suarez.Brendan Rodgers' post-match comments suggested that Borini would be out for the remainder of the 2012–13 season.[27] He returned to the team on 27 April 2013, coming off the bench in the 72nd minute to score his first Premier League goal and Liverpool's fifth in a 6–0 away win againstNewcastle United.[28] In his first season with Liverpool, he played 20 games, scoring twice.
Borini signed on a season-long loan withSunderland on 2 September 2013.[29] He made his Sunderland debut in a 1–3 home defeat toArsenal, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute forCharis Mavrias.[30] He made his full debut in a 3–0 away defeat atWest Bromwich Albion, but was subbed off in the 59th minute forJozy Altidore in a match that proved to be then managerPaolo Di Canio's last game in charge after he was sacked a day later.[31]Kevin Ball was put in caretaker charge of Sunderland's League Cup tie at home toPeterborough United, Borini was again put on the substitutes bench, but was subbed on 13 minutes from full-time forEmanuele Giaccherini; Sunderland won the match 2–0.[32] Borini scored a late equaliser in theLeague Cup quarter-final against Chelsea, and later assistedKi Sung-Yeung's extra time winner. On 28 December 2013, Borini was taken hospital after playing the first half of Sunderland's draw withCardiff City, due to illness, but was released later that day.[33] On 7 January 2014, Borini scored Sunderland's winning goal from the penalty spot as they beatManchester United 2–1 at theStadium of Light in the League Cup semi-final first leg. On 2 March 2014, he scored the opening goal in the 3–12014 Football League Cup Final defeat toManchester City.[34]
On 19 April, Borini scored Sunderland's winning goal in a 2–1 win away at his former clubChelsea to inflictJosé Mourinho's first ever home league defeat as manager of the club. The result kept his parent club Liverpool two points clear of Chelsea at the top of thePremier League table.[35] In the following days, Borini was named as Sunderland's "Young Player of the Year".[36] Borini scored another penalty on 27 April, which was Sunderland's second goal in a 4–0 home win over Cardiff City, a result which saw them move out of the relegation zone. On 7 May, he scored in a 2–0 win against West Bromwich Albion, to ensure the team would not be relegated from the Premier League. He scored in Sunderland's only goal in a 1–3 defeat to Swansea on the final day of the season.[37]
.jpg)
On 14 May 2014, in his first match since his return from Sunderland, Borini scored in a 4–0 friendly win overShamrock Rovers at theAviva Stadium in Dublin.[38] During the pre-season, he was substituted after 12 minutes in a 1–0 friendly defeat to Roma atFenway Park on 24 July 2014 following a heavy fall. Rodgers acknowledged that Borini would require treatment, but insisted that the injury was not serious.[39]
It was confirmed that Liverpool accepted a £14 million bid from Sunderland, however he decided against the switch, instead choosing to fight for his place in the Liverpool first team.[40]
On 21 December 2014, Borini was sent off for two yellow cards in a 2–2 draw againstArsenal at Anfield, despite only playing 16 minutes as a substitute. The second was given for a high challenge onSanti Cazorla which tore the Arsenal player's shirt open.[41] He scored his second Premier League goal for Liverpool, againstAston Villa on 17 January 2015, from a cross byJordan Henderson in a 2–0 win.[42][43]
.jpg)
On 31 August 2015, Borini joinedSunderland on a four-year deal, for a reported fee of £8 million, potentially rising to £10 million.[44][45] After struggling for form and fitness, Borini scored his first goal of the season in a 3–1 away defeat to Chelsea.[46]
On 1 March 2016, Borini scored a stoppage time equaliser, as Sunderland salvaged a 2–2 draw at home toCrystal Palace. ManagerSam Allardyce labelled the strike as goal of the season.[47] On 15 April 2016, Borini opened the scoring from the penalty spot in a crucial 0–3 away victory over fellow strugglers Norwich, a result which moved Sunderland within one point of safety.[48] On 7 May 2016, Borini scored in a home match against Chelsea to level the score at 2–2, in a match which Sunderland went on to win 3–2 due to aJermain Defoe goal three minutes later, to move out of the relegation zone.[49] Sunderland's survival was confirmed in a 3–0 victory over Everton later that week.
Borini started Sunderland's first game of the season againstManchester City.[50] On 27 August 2016, he suffered the torn ligament while taking a free-kick in the 1–1 draw withSouthampton which he was substituted later.[51] He was out due to the injury for three months.[51] He returned to the starting line-up on 14 December in the 1–0 loss againstChelsea.[52] His first goal of the season was a last minute stunner againstManchester United on 26 December.[53] His second goal of the season was a last minute equaliser againstWest Ham United. He scored the goal just two minutes after coming on the field.[54] He finished the season with two goals in 26 appearances in all competitions as Sunderland finished bottom of the table and was relegated.
On 30 June 2017, Borini joinedSerie A clubAC Milan on loan, with an obligation to buy.[55] On 11 July, he made his debut in friendly match againstLugano. He made his official debut for the club on 27 July, in a 1–0 away win againstCS U Craiova in the first leg of Milan'sEuropa Leaguethird-round qualifier.[56] He scored his first goal for the club in Milan's 6–0 Europa League play-off win againstShkëndija on 17 August.[57] On 28 September, he provided two assists in a 3–2 home againstRijeka in theEuropa League.[58]
On 7 June 2018, Sunderland announced Borini to join Milan permanently on 1 July 2018.[59]
On 14 January 2020, he signed withHellas Verona until the end of the 2019–20 season.[60] He played for the first time, five days later against Bologna, and he scored the equalising goal for his team.[61][62]
On 15 December 2020, Borini signed forSüper Lig clubFatih Karagümrük.[63] Borini got off to a good start at the club, scoring multiple goals including a right footed curled effort into the top corner against Fenerbahçe in a 2–1 loss on 13 February.
On 10 July 2023,Sampdoria, recently relegated toSerie B, announced the signing of Borini on a contract until 2025.[64]
After training withSalford City for a month, Borini signed a short-term deal with theEFL League Two club on 17 October 2025.[65] He made his debut for the club as a substitute in a 1–0 league win overOldham Athletic on 18 October 2025,[66] and scored his first Salford goal on 5 December 2025 in a 4–0 victory overLeyton Orient in the second round of theFA Cup.[67] In the January 2026 transfer window it was confirmed that Borini would extend his contract and stay with Salford until the end of the season.[68]
On 13 November 2009, he made his debut with theItaly U-21 squad in a 2–0 loss[69] againstHungary. Borini was named captain of theItalian team for the2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. On 29 March 2011, he scored his first goal for the U21 team in a friendly game againstGermany.
On 26 February 2012, Borini was called up to thesenior national team by head coachCesare Prandelli.[70] He made his debut on 29 February 2012, in the friendly match against theUnited States.[71][72] He was included in the Italian squad forUEFA Euro 2012, but did not come off the bench.[73]
In May 2013 he was included in Italy U-21 squad for the2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship held inIsrael.[74] On 15 June 2013 he scored a winning goal in semi-finals of the competition against theNetherlands[75] and a consolation goal in the final againstSpain.[76] Following the competition's completion he was announced in UEFA's officialteam of the tournament.[77]
In May 2016, Borini was named in Italy's preliminary 28-man training squad ahead ofUEFA Euro 2016.[78]
Initially regarded as one of the most promising young Italianforwards of his generation in his youth, in 2012, Borini was named one of the top players born after 1991 byDon Balón.[79] Borini is a quick, agile, and hardworkingstriker, with good technique, movement off the ball, and an accurate shot; he is capable of playing in several other offensive positions, and he has also been deployed as awinger, or as asupporting striker.[80][81]
A versatile player,[82] during his time at Milan, he was used by bothVincenzo Montella andGennaro Gattuso in more defensive roles such as an attackingwing-back orwide midfielder in a3–5–2 formation or even as afull-back in a4–3–3 formation, on either side of the pitch.[83] His all-time favorite position is, however, as a supporting striker in a4–4–2 formation.[84] Under his Milan coachMarco Giampaolo during the 2019–20 season, Borini made several appearances in a new role, which saw him deployed as aright-sided,offensive-mindedcentral midfielder in a4–3–1–2 formation, known as the "mezzala" role, in Italian football jargon.[85][86]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Chelsea | 2009–10[88] | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
| Swansea City (loan) | 2010–11[89] | Championship | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[d] | 0 | 12 | 6 | |
| Roma (loan) | 2011–12[87] | Serie A | 24 | 9 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 26 | 10 | |||
| Liverpool | 2012–13[90] | Premier League | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6[e] | 1 | — | 20 | 2 | |
| 2014–15[91] | Premier League | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | — | 18 | 1 | ||
| Total | 25 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 38 | 3 | |||
| Sunderland (loan) | 2013–14[92] | Premier League | 32 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | — | — | 40 | 10 | ||
| Sunderland | 2015–16[93] | Premier League | 26 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 5 | ||
| 2016–17[94] | Premier League | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 2 | |||
| Total | 82 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 3 | — | — | 93 | 17 | ||||
| AC Milan (loan) | 2017–18[95] | Serie A | 29 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 11[e] | 3 | — | 44 | 5 | ||
| AC Milan | 2018–19[96] | Serie A | 20 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 5[e] | 1 | 1[f] | 0 | 29 | 3 | |
| 2019–20[97] | Serie A | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 51 | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 75 | 8 | |||
| Hellas Verona | 2019–20[97] | Serie A | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 14 | 3 | |||
| Fatih Karagümrük | 2020–21 | Süper Lig | 20 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 20 | 9 | |||
| 2021–22 | Süper Lig | 21 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 24 | 6 | ||||
| 2022–23 | Süper Lig | 30 | 19 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 31 | 20 | ||||
| Total | 71 | 31 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | 75 | 35 | |||||
| Sampdoria | 2023–24 | Serie B | 22 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1[g] | 0 | 23 | 9 | ||
| 2024–25 | Serie B | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 30 | 9 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 34 | 10 | ||||
| Salford City | 2025–26 | League Two | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[h] | 0 | 14 | 2 | |
| Career total | 318 | 76 | 28 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 25 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 387 | 92 | ||
| Italy | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 |
Chelsea
Swansea City
Sunderland
AC Milan
Italy U21
Italy
Individual
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Fabio Borini returned from a season-long loan spell at Sunderland to continue his good form with a goal.
