Daniele Paponi

ACQUIRED: Loaned to the Impact on April 19, 2013, by Serie A club Bologna, following a trial with the Impact. Paponi scored the lone goal in Bologna’s 1-0 friendly win over the Impact in November 2012, while the team was in Italy for its postseason tour.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Prior to joining the Impact, Paponi played three games in Serie A and one Coppa Italia game with Bologna in 2012-2013. He played 18 games over three seasons with the club from Emilia-Romagna, where he was teammates with Impact Designated Player Marco Di Vaio and midfielder Andrea Pisanu.

Paponi started his professional career in 2005 with Parma at just 17 years old after spending time with the club’s youth system. He scored one goal in 16 games in Serie A and two goals in seven games in Serie B with the team from 2005-08. He also scored two goals in 36 games in Serie B with AC Cesena and AC Rimini.

The forward appeared in six UEFA Cup games with Parma in 2006-2007, scoring two goals and adding an assist, while adding another two goals in nine games played in the Coppa Italia.

At the international level, Paponi represented Italy on four occasions with the U20 national team.