One of the world's most famous volleyball players, Paola Egonu, will continue her career with the Italian club Vero Volley Milano in the 2025/2026 season. This will be the Italian player's third consecutive season with Vero Volley.

Born on December 18, 1998, in Cittadella, Padua, the 189-cm opposite hitter began her competitive journey at Club Italia, where she played from 2012 to 2017. This was followed by a two-year stint at Igor Gorgonzola Novara (2017-2019), where she won the Champions League (2019, MVP), two Italian Cups (2018, 2019, as MVP in 2018), and the Italian Supercup (2017).

Her period at Imoco Conegliano (2019-2022) was exceptionally successful, including victories in the FIVB Club World Championship (2019, MVP), the Champions League (2021, MVP), two Serie A1 titles (2021, 2022, both times MVP), three Italian Cups (two MVP awards), and three Supercups (2019, MVP). In 2021, she was also named CEV Player of the Year.

In the 2022/2023 season, Egonu joined Vakifbank Istanbul, where she won the Turkish Cup and the CEV Champions League (2023, MVP), defeating Eczacibasi in the final in Turin.

For the 2023/2024 season, she returned to Italy with Vero Volley, where she established herself as the top scorer in the regular season of Serie A1, as well as the best blocker and server on her team. In the just-concluded season, which reached the Scudetto final and the Champions League Final Four, Egonu was again the leading scorer and server for Numia Vero Volley Milano.

With the Italian national team, with which she debuted in 2014, Paola Egonu has numerous prestigious accolades: Gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (MVP and best opposite), Gold at the VNL in 2022 and 2024 (both times MVP and best opposite), Gold at the European Championship in 2021 (MVP). She also holds Silver from the World Championship in 2018 (best opposite) and the Grand Prix in 2017, as well as Bronze from the World Championship in 2022 and the European Championship in 2019. With Italy's youth teams, she won Gold (MVP and best attacker) and Bronze at the U20 World Championship in 2015. Her individual awards include numerous MVP honors in club and international tournaments, as well as the title "Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic."

"I can't wait to start this new season with my teammates and the management," Egonu stated. "This year was truly intense and taught us many things from all perspectives. I am sure that with the right determination and perseverance, both in training and in matches, we will be able to achieve great goals together. Go Numia Vero Volley Milano, see you soon!"

photos: Nikolay Varadinov