10 July 2022
Koni De Winter is set for a new adventure. The Belgian defender will play in Serie A next season, at Empoli now that his loan to the Tuscan club is official.
The 20-year-old continues his career in Italy after joining Juventus in the summer of 2018.
From July of that year to today, the growth of the Antwerp-born player has been exponential. Demonstrating great physical, technical and leadership skills, De Winter has impressed at every level, starting off from his first season, when at Under 17 level he totaled 23 appearances.
The following year, in season 2019/20, Koni progressed to the Primavera. His two seasons with the Under 19 saw him make 39 appearances, and in the second year he more than once wore the captain’s armband.
The Belgian footballer continued to make progress, making the next step to the Under 23 squad and the world of professional football. De Winter met the challenge head on, and displaying determination and personality, he clocked up 31 appearances in all competitions, not to mention his first two goals as a pro.
Last year he climbed the final rung when he made his debut for the First Team. On 23 November 2021 the young defender, then still a teenager, was brought on at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea on the penultimate day of the Champions League group stage. His second and last appearance came at the beginning of December, as a starter in the final group stage encounter against Malmö.
In the season just concluded, Koni had the chance to learn from the best as he often trained with Coach Allegri's First Team. All of which provided an important opportunity to grow and further enrich his technical ability and overall experience, which next season he will put to use at Empoli.
Good luck, Koni!
