Ivan Francesco De Santis (born 21 May 1997) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Serie C Group C club Taranto. A centre-back, he made his professional debut on 2 November 2016, for Catania.

Ivan De Santis
Personal information
Full name Ivan Francesco De Santis
Date of birth (1997-05-21) 21 May 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Conversano, Italy
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Taranto
Number 4
Youth career
0000–2016 Milan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Milan 0 (0)
2016–2017Catania (loan) 2 (0)
2017Paganese (loan) 15 (1)
2017–2019 Ascoli 26 (1)
2019Virtus Entella (loan) 11 (0)
2019–2022 Virtus Entella 2 (0)
2020Cesena (loan) 4 (0)
2021Modena (loan) 5 (0)
2021–2022Monopoli (loan) 0 (0)
2022Paganese (loan) 15 (0)
2022–2023 Monopoli 28 (2)
2023– Taranto 9 (0)
2024Fermana (loan) 4 (0)
International career
2012 Italy U15 9 (1)
2012–2013 Italy U16 4 (0)
2013–2014 Italy U17 15 (3)
2014–2015 Italy U18 5 (0)
2015–2016 Italy U19 3 (2)
2016–2017 Italy U20 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 October 2017

Career

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Early career

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De Santis was born in the Apulian town of Conversano, but began his career in Lombardy in the youth teams of Serie A giants Milan. His progression through the youth teams was rapid, and he became a starter for the Primavera side aged just 16. Despite playing against opponents often two years older than himself, De Santis impressed coaches whilst playing in the Campionato Nazionale Primavera and UEFA Youth League,[1] and made over 60 appearances for the Primavera side in total.

Loan moves

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De Santis was sent on loan to Lega Pro side Catania at the beginning of the 2016–17 season.[2] Here, however, De Santis received little game time and made just three appearances. Due to this lack of playing time, Milan recalled De Santis early, in January 2017, in order to loan him out again. He signed a six-month loan contract with Paganese, also of Lega Pro, on 27 January 2017.[3]

Ascoli

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On 8 January 2019, he joined Virtus Entella on loan with an option to purchase.[4]

Virtus Entella

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He moved to Virtus permanently on 23 August 2019.[5]

Loan to Cesena

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On 20 January 2020, he joined Serie C club Cesena on loan until the end of the season.[6]

Loan to Modena

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On 14 January 2021, he was loaned to Serie C club Modena.[7]

Loan to Monopoli

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On 31 August 2021 he moved to Monopoli on loan with an obligation to buy.[8]

Loan to Paganese

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On 28 January 2022, he joined Paganese on a sub-loan from Monopoli.[9]

Taranto

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On 20 July 2023, De Santis signed a two-year contract with Taranto.[10] On 26 January 2024, he was loaned by Fermana.[11]

National team

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De Santis has played for every age category for Italy from under-15 to under-19, and also received a call-up to the under-20 side in September 2016 for the Under-20 Four Nations Tournament, after Fabio Della Giovanna was forced to withdraw due to injury.[12]

Career statistics

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Club

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Updated 1 January 2018

Club League Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Catania Lega Pro 2016–17 2 0 1 0 3 0
Paganese 2016–17 15 1 0 0 1 0 16 1
Ascoli Serie B 2017–18 10 0 1 0 0 0 11 0
Total 27 1 2 0 1 0 30 1

References

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  1. ^ "The Stars Of Tomorrow... (Part 2 – Centre Backs)". Italian Football Daily. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Catania, in arrivo Ivan De Santis in prestito dal Milan" (in Italian). Tuttomercato. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Paganese, a breve l'annuncio di De Santis" (in Italian). Tuttomercato. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Ufficiale: Ivan De Santis è un nuovo giocatore dell'Entella" [Official: Ivan de Santis is a new Entella player] (in Italian). Virtus Entella. 8 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Entella, in dirittura d'arrivo lo scambio De Santis-Poli con il Carpi". Tutto B. 23 August 2019.
  6. ^ "ALTRO ARRIVO DALLA VIRTUS ENTELLA: È IVAN DE SANTIS" (Press release) (in Italian). Cesena. 20 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Arriva il difensore De Santis" (in Italian). Modena. 14 January 2021.
  8. ^ "IVAN DE SANTIS É UN NUOVO CALCIATORE DEL MONOPOLI" (in Italian). Monopoli. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  9. ^ "IVAN DE SANTIS IN PRESTITO DAL MONOPOLI" (Press release) (in Italian). Paganese. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  10. ^ "DE SANTIS È UFFICIALMENTE ROSSOBLÙ" [DE SANTIS IS OFFICIALLY ROSSOBLÙ] (in Italian). Taranto. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  11. ^ "UFFICIALE. Dal Taranto arriva il difensore Ivan De Santis" [OFFICIAL. Defender Ivan De Santis arrives from Taranto] (in Italian). Fermana. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  12. ^ "OGGI L'UNDER 20 ESORDISCE NEL 'QUATTRO NAZIONI', L'UNDER 18 AFFRONTA L'INGHILTERRA" (in Italian). FIGC. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2017.