1. Overview
Tommaso Baldanzi, born on March 23, 2003, is an Italian professional footballer who primarily plays as an attacking midfielder for Serie A club Roma. He is recognized for his technical skills and agility, having progressed through the youth ranks to establish himself in professional Italian football.
2. Early life and youth career
Baldanzi was born in Poggibonsi, Italy, and grew up in Castelfiorentino. He began his football journey at the age of six, playing for a local grassroots club. Two years later, at the age of eight, he joined the youth sector of Empoli, where he developed through their extensive youth academy system. During his time in the youth ranks, Baldanzi achieved a significant milestone by winning an under-16 national championship with Empoli in 2019.
3. Club career
Baldanzi's professional club career began at Empoli, where he transitioned from a promising youth player to a key figure in the senior squad, before making a significant move to AS Roma.
3.1. Empoli
Baldanzi made his professional debut for Empoli on October 28, 2020, at just 17 years old. This occurred in a Coppa Italia match against Benevento, where he came on as a substitute in the 66th minute during a 4-2 victory. He made an immediate impact by assisting Leonardo Mancuso's final goal of the match. In the same 2020-21 season, he played a crucial role in Empoli's under-19 team, helping them win the Campionato Primavera 1. His exceptional performance in the league earned him the Most Valuable Player award for the 2020-21 Campionato Primavera 1 season, where he notably scored seven goals.
In the subsequent 2021-22 season, Baldanzi featured in the 2021-22 UEFA Youth League, demonstrating his talent on a European youth stage. Following this, he was officially promoted to Empoli's first team, alongside teammates Jacopo Fazzini and Duccio Degli Innocenti. His Serie A debut came on May 22, 2022, in a 1-0 away win against Atalanta, where he replaced Patrick Cutrone in the 74th minute. On August 28, 2022, Baldanzi made his first league start for Empoli against Lecce, a match that concluded in a 1-1 draw. Just three days later, on August 31, he scored his first professional goal in a 1-1 league draw against Hellas Verona. A standout moment in his Empoli career was on January 23, 2023, when he scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 league victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro, securing a significant upset for his team. Overall, Baldanzi made 44 appearances and scored 6 goals for Empoli across all competitions.
3.2. Roma
On February 1, 2024, Tommaso Baldanzi completed his transfer to Roma. He made his debut for the club on February 5, coming on as a substitute in a match against Cagliari Calcio. During his initial period at Roma, he contributed to the team's strong run, which included a three-game winning streak. As of February 24, 2025, he has made 33 appearances and scored 1 goal in Serie A, and 12 appearances in European competitions for Roma.
4. International career
Tommaso Baldanzi has extensively represented Italy at various youth international levels, showcasing his potential on the national stage.
He was part of the Italy U17 squad, making 3 appearances and scoring 1 goal. He also played for the Italy U18 team, where he appeared once and scored two goals.
In June 2022, Baldanzi was included in the Italy U19 squad for the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship held in Slovakia. During the tournament, he scored a goal in the group stage match against Romania. The Azzurrini reached the semi-finals of the competition before being eliminated by eventual winners England. Overall, he earned 12 caps and scored 2 goals for the Italy U19 team.
Baldanzi made his debut for the Italy U21 squad on March 24, 2023, in a friendly match against Serbia, which Italy won 2-0. He has one appearance for the U21 team.
In May 2023, he was selected for the Italian U20 squad participating in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. The Azzurrini had a successful run in the tournament, reaching the final before ultimately finishing as runners-up, losing to Uruguay in the championship match. For the Italy U20 team, he recorded 5 appearances and 2 goals.
Furthermore, Baldanzi has been recognized by the senior Italian national team management. In both May and December 2022, he participated in training camps led by then-manager Roberto Mancini, which were organized to identify and nurture promising national talents.
5. Style of play
Tommaso Baldanzi is primarily an attacking midfielder, often operating in the role of a number 10, which allows him to dictate play and create scoring opportunities. He also possesses the versatility to play as a left winger in an attacking trio. Standing at 67 in (170 cm) and weighing 150 lb (68 kg), his relatively low center of gravity contributes to his notable quickness and exceptional ball control.
Baldanzi is known for his strong technical abilities and creativity on the field. Although predominantly left-footed, he is capable of using his weaker right foot effectively. He consistently poses an attacking threat due to his excellent vision, strong dribbling skills, and precise shooting abilities, both from close range and from distance.
Considered one of the most promising Italian prospects of his generation, Baldanzi has drawn comparisons to renowned players such as Sebastian Giovinco and Papu Gómez. He has also cited Paulo Dybala as his biggest source of inspiration, reflecting a similar playing style characterized by technical finesse and offensive flair.
6. Career statistics
This section details Tommaso Baldanzi's professional club and international career statistics.
| Club | Season | League | Coppa Italia | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Empoli | 2020-21 | Serie B | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021-22 | Serie A | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2022-23 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 0 | - | 27 | 4 | |||
| 2023-24 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 14 | 2 | |||
| Total | 41 | 6 | 3 | 0 | - | 44 | 6 | |||
| Roma | 2023-24 | Serie A | 13 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| 2024-25 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 28 | 2 | ||
| Total | 33 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 46 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 74 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 90 | 8 | ||
7. Honours
Tommaso Baldanzi has achieved the following honours throughout his youth and professional career:
- Empoli U16
- Campionato Nazionale Under-16 A e B: 2018-19
- Empoli U19
- Campionato Primavera 1: 2020-21
- Italy U20
- FIFA U-20 World Cup runner-up: 2023
- Individual
- Campionato Primavera 1 Most Valuable Player: 2020-21