Salvatore Esposito (footballer, born 2000)

Salvatore Esposito (born 7 October 2000) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for club Spezia and the Italy national team.

Club career
Esposito first joined SPAL on loan from Inter Milan U-19 squad in January 2018. He made several bench appearances for SPAL late in the 2017–18 Serie A season. The same year in 29 June, SPAL secured his permanent transfer from Inter.

On 9 January 2019, Esposito was loaned to Serie C club Ravenna until the end of the season. The same year on 22 January, he made his Serie C debut against Triestina as a half-time substitute for Carlo Martorelli and scored a late equalizer in a 2–2 draw.

On 11 July 2019, Esposito joined Serie B club Chievo on loan until 30 June 2020.

On 6 January 2023, Esposito joined Serie A club Spezia on loan with an obligation to buy. He scored his first goal for the club with a direct free kick against AC Milan.

International career
On 16 January 2019, Esposito debuted for the Italy U19 in a friendly against Spain and scored a goal in a 3–0 victory.

Esposito was selected in the Italian senior squad that ranged from the 2022 Finalissima against Argentina until the second leg of 2022–23 UEFA Nations League group stage match against Germany. He debuted against England in the latter tournament on 11 June 2022.

Personal life
He is the older brother of strikers Sebastiano Esposito and Francesco Pio Esposito.