USMNT's Gianluca Busio extends Venezia contract after leading Italian side to promotion in Serie A

Gianluca Busio has extended his contract with Serie A side Venezia after helping see them promoted at the end of the 2023-24 Serie B campaign. The Venice-based club have inked him to a new deal through 2026.

The 22-year-old midfielder has played 99 games for the Lagunari since arriving in 2021-22, with eight goals and seven assists.

Busio spent the summer with the U23 U.S. men's national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but only managed to compete in two of their four matches. In their second match of the Group Stage, he exited their 4-1 victory over New Zealand with a lower-leg injury after bagging the USMNT's third goal of the match 30 minutes into the contest.

He's since been undergoing rehabilitation with Venezia, preparing to make his 2024-25 debut.

“I am really happy about this contract renewal. There have been ups and downs, but I am proud to be able to wear the VFC jersey for even longer," Busio said. "The ownership and Director Antonelli over these years have really done a great job and I thank them so much for this opportunity. This is a special moment for me, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here in Venice. When I arrived the club was in Serie A, unfortunately that year it didn't go well for us but now we are back and our goal is to play in this category for a long time, because Venezia FC deserves the top division.”

Currently sidelined with an injury, Busio is expected to take the pitch for Venezia for the first time this Serie A season in late September. The Lagunari next take the pitch against Christian Pulisic's AC Milan on September 14.