Thomas Campaniello, who is the Empoli striker who made his Serie A debut at 16?

Empoli (Florence), February 24, 2025 – At the wonderful age of 16 (which will become 17 on February 29), Thomas Campaniello has entered a very select circle: that of the youngest footballers in history to have made their debut in the Serie A championship. It happened in the 72nd minute of Empoli-Atalanta, a match that will certainly not remain in the annals of Azzurri history for the result (5-0 for the Bergamo team), but which will certainly mark an important date: the beginning of the career of one of the most promising strikers on the national scene.

Because Thomas Campaniello, born in Certaldo on February 29, 2008 , is just the latest talent to emerge from the prolific youth sector of the Azzurri. Roberto D'Aversa threw him into the fray when the result was already abundantly certain, but those who think of a Christmas present that arrived a few weeks late are very wrong. The center forward, who plays regularly in the national team and has tons of goals behind him in the youth teams, is here for a reason.

Empoli's youngest Serie A debutant

16 years, 11 months and 25 days. Thomas Campaniello is not the youngest player in the history of the Azzurri to have made his debut in the first team, but if we are talking about Serie A, no one before him had ever worn the Empoli shirt at this age. And to think that many talents have passed through these parts. A certain Vincenzo Montella, for example, made his debut in the Azzurri shirt at 16 years, 11 months and 22 days, three less than Campaniello . But he did it in an Empoli-Varese in 1991, when Serie C1 still existed. Fabio Galante, on the other hand, made his debut at 17 years, 5 months and 15 days: in this case too, the Azzurri were in C1 and the match was Empoli-Como. Tommaso Baldanzi, the latest jewel to emerge from the youth system, had to wait until he was 17 years, 7 months and 5 days old to make his debut in the Coppa Italia match against Benevento.

Who is Thomas Campaniello?

Dual passport (Italian and Polish) was born in Certaldo and raised in the area. He has been playing for Empoli since he was 5 years old and has already scored tons of goals with the blue jersey. He is part, or perhaps it would be more appropriate to say was given the now certain promotion to the first team, of a 'brood' on which the club is betting a lot. Campaniello is coming off three championship finals with the youth teams (Under 14 Pro 2021/2022, Under 15 Serie A and B 2022/2023 and Under 17 Serie A and B 2023/2024) and has already enchanted everyone in the youth categories. A fast and physically strong striker, he is however gifted with excellent technique. Some compare him to Alvaro Morata, others assure that in addition to scoring he is able to play for the team and make assists. A modern striker who could make Empoli's fortunes very soon.

The national team

Campaniello was among the protagonists of the victory of the Italian Under 17 national team at the European Championships, the same team in which Camarda plays. The two have different characteristics and for this reason they have found great harmony. The Italian striker, this season, has joined the Primavera, but after his debut with Atalanta and given the injury problems that D'Aversa has to manage, it is not at all excluded that yesterday's appearance is destined to have a follow-up. The future is in his hands.