Antonio Candela

Antonio Candela

Personal information
Full name	Antonio Candela [1]
Date of birth	(2000-04-27) 27 April 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth	La Spezia, Italy
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position	Right back [2]
Team information
Current team	Empoli (on loan from Spezia)
Youth career
2011–2018	Spezia
2018–2019	Genoa
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2018	Spezia	0	(0)
2019–2022	Genoa	0	(0)
2019–2020	→ Trapani (loan)	7	(0)
2020	→ Olbia (loan)	4	(0)
2020–2021	→ Pergolettese (loan)	30	(0)
2021–2022	→ Cesena (loan)	27	(4)
2022–2026	Venezia	79	(2)
2025	→ Valladolid (loan)	12	(0)
2025–2026	→ Spezia (loan)	17	(0)
2026–	Spezia	0	(0)
2026–	→ Empoli (loan)	0	(0)
International career
2016	Italy U16	4	(0)
2016–2017	Italy U17	18	(0)
2017–2019	Italy U19	25	(1)
2019	Italy U20	3	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Italy UEFA European Under-19 Championship Runner-up 2018
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 24 January 2025

Antonio Candela (born 27 April 2000) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as defender for Serie B club Empoli on loan from Spezia. ^[3]

Career

On 5 August 2017, Candela made his professional debut with Spezia Calcio against Serie C club Reggiana in the Coppa Italia.

On 31 July 2019, Candela joined Serie B club Trapani on loan until 30 June 2020. ^[4] On 31 January 2020, he moved on loan to Serie C club Olbia. ^[5]

On 3 September 2020 he moved on loan to Pergolettese. ^[6] On 24 July 2021, he was loaned to Cesena. ^[7]

On 25 August 2022, Genoa and Venezia reached an agreement under which Candela and cash moved to Venezia in exchange for Mattia Aramu moving in the opposite direction. Candela signed a three-year agreement with Venezia, with an option to extend. ^[8]

On 3 February 2025, Candela was loaned to Spanish side Valladolid for the remainder of the 2024–25 season. ^[9]

On 16 August 2025, he returned to Spezia on loan with an obligation to buy. ^[10]

On 30 January 2026, Spezia made the transfer permanent and at the same time loaned Candela out to Empoli until 30 June 2026, with an option to buy. ^[11]

Honours

Italy U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship runner-up: 2018 ^[12]

References

1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: Italy" (PDF). FIFA. 13 June 2019. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2020.
2. Antonio Candela at WorldFootball.net
3. Antonio Candela at Soccerway
4. "UFFICIALE: Genoa, Antonio Candela in prestito al Trapani" . Retrieved 31 July 2019.
5. "Benvenuto a Candela!" (Press release) (in Italian). Olbia. 31 January 2020.
6. "ANTONIO CANDELA UFFICIALE ALLA PERGOLETTESE" (in Italian). Pergolettese. 3 September 2020.
7. "DAL GENOA ARRIVA ANTONIO CANDELA" (in Italian). Cesena. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
8. "VENEZIA AND GENOA SWAP MATTIA ARAMU AND ANTONIO CANDELA". Venezia. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
9. "Antonio Candela refuerza la defensa". Real Valladolid (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 February 2025.
10. "Ufficiale | Antonio Candela è un nuovo calciatore dello Spezia" [Official | Antonio Candela is a new Spezia player.] (in Italian). Spezia Calcio. 16 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
11. "Candela all'Empoli" [Candela at Empoli] (in Italian). Spezia Calcio. 30 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
12. "Portugal win epic U19 EURO final". UEFA . Union of European Football Associations. 29 July 2018.