Edoardo Bove

Edoardo Bove is a midfielder who collapsed during a Serie A match while playing for Fiorentina in December 2024. He was diagnosed with a heart condition and had a subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator implanted.

Italian regulations do not allow players with such a device to play competitive football, so his route in Serie A was closed. English rules do permit it. His contract with Roma was terminated by mutual consent on 9 January 2026, and on 21 January he signed for Watford as a free agent.

Bove is a Roman who joined the Roma academy in 2012 and made his senior debut for the club in 2021. He was in the squad that won the 2021–22 Europa Conference League, and the following season Roma reached the Europa League final, where they lost to Sevilla.

In August 2024 he moved to Fiorentina on a season-long loan. The deal carried an option to buy for around €10.5 million, which would become obligatory if he played in 60% of the team's matches. Before he collapsed, he had made 12 league appearances for the club and scored once.

Bove came through Italy's youth ranks: he was capped seven times at under-16 level, five times at under-18 (one goal), six times at under-20 (two goals) and 14 times at under-21 (one goal). He has not yet won a senior cap.

In October 2023 CONI gave him the Beppe Viola Award for Sports Culture, citing his ethical conduct and social responsibility.