Liberato Cacace Profile, Stats and Career
Liberato Cacace is a New Zealand left-back who now plays for Wrexham AFC in the Championship. He moved to Wales in July 2025 after four seasons in Italy with Empoli. This article covers Liberato Cacace’s age, club status, stats, transfer value, salary status, and international record.
Quick Answer
Liberato Gianpaolo Cacace is a New Zealand defender from Wellington. Wrexham signed him from Empoli for a reported €2.5 million fee in July 2025, and public databases list his deal through June 30, 2028. New Zealand Football listed him on 35 caps and one goal when the final World Cup squad was announced on May 14, 2026.
Liberato Cacace Personal Info and Career Details
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Liberato Gianpaolo Cacace |
| Date of birth | 27 September 2000 |
| Age | 25 |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Height | 183 cm / 1.83 m |
| Weight | yet to be confirmed |
| Position | Left-back |
| Preferred foot | Left |
| Current club | Wrexham AFC |
| Jersey number | yet to be confirmed |
| Weekly salary | Will be updated soon |
| Estimated net worth | Will be updated soon |
Early Life and Background
Cacace was born in Wellington and came through Island Bay United before Wellington Phoenix picked him up. The Phoenix academy and reserve setup gave him the first real professional platform. He rose fast because his running power and left-footed delivery stood out early.
His family background also mattered in his development. Cacace has Italian heritage, yet he built his international identity with New Zealand. That link stayed clear through youth selection, senior selection, and his rise into a vice-captain role.
Birthplace, family, and youth football journey
Wellington Phoenix trusted Cacace in the first team during the 2019-20 season, and he responded with goals, assists, and major minutes. His final Phoenix years brought league recognition, so Europe became the next step quickly. Sint-Truiden signed him in 2020 before Empoli moved for him a year later.
Italy broadened his game. He had to defend deeper, time his overlaps better, and survive a slower tactical rhythm. Those seasons turned him from a quick A-League runner into a more complete full-back.
Transfer News and Market Value
New Zealand Football confirmed in July 2025 that Cacace had signed with Wrexham for a club-record fee. Transfermarkt lists the move from Empoli at €2.5 million and places his current market value at €3.0 million. That combination made him one of the most valuable New Zealand defenders in the 2026 squad window.
The current contract picture also looks stable. Public player records list his Wrexham deal through June 30, 2028, so he is not entering a short contract period. Wrexham signed him for the Championship push, not as a stop-gap option.
Liberato Cacace Salary and Net Worth
No verified public contract database currently confirms Cacace’s exact weekly Wrexham salary. Search results around salary estimates vary and do not meet a clean verification standard. His salary will be updated soon.
No reliable public source confirms Liberato Cacace’s private net worth either. He has now played in New Zealand, Belgium, Italy, and Wales, yet no audited figure is public. His net worth will be updated soon.
Liberato Cacace Club Career
Cacace’s club career has moved upward at each step. Wellington Phoenix gave him the start, Sint-Truiden opened the European door, Empoli made him a Serie A regular, and Wrexham pulled him into the Championship. Few New Zealand defenders have moved through that many competitive levels before age 26.
Early clubs and development
Cacace played 25 matches for Wellington Phoenix in 2019-20 and posted three goals with three assists. That season brought the Harry Kewell Medal and confirmed his potential. Sint-Truiden then used him in Belgium before Empoli signed him in August 2021.
Empoli became the biggest platform of his career. He made 86 Serie A appearances for the club and finished the 2024-25 season with 39 matches, two goals, and five assists across competitions. Those numbers explain why Wrexham paid a record fee.
Current club and recent form
Wrexham used Cacace in 13 matches in 2025-26, and he supplied one assist while also scoring in the FA Cup. Search reporting around the spring run said he returned to full training after a hamstring issue, so his World Cup timing improved late in the season. He enters the tournament period as an active Championship defender, not as a player without minutes.
His current profile also matters to the wider New Zealand World Cup 2026 squad. Cacace gives the squad an attack-minded left side, while defenders such as Tim Payne, Bill Tuiloma, and Francis De Vries offer different balance points across the back line.
Liberato Cacace Stats and Performance
Cacace’s numbers show a full-back who attacks. The recent Empoli seasons produced assists and progression carries, while Wellington brought his first scoring burst. Even the shorter Wrexham sample still shows end-product from the flank.
| Season | Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Wrexham AFC | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | Empoli | 39 | 2 | 5 |
| 2023-24 | Empoli | 34 | 0 | 2 |
| 2019-20 | Wellington Phoenix | 25 | 3 | 3 |
International Career
Cacace has become a core All Whites defender. He debuted in 2018, featured at the Tokyo Olympics, and then moved into a senior leadership role. New Zealand Football listed him on 35 caps and one goal in the final 2026 World Cup squad release.
Caps, goals, and major tournaments
He played every part of the recent qualification period and entered the 2026 finals as one of Darren Bazeley’s most trusted defenders. Cacace also captained the side in parts of the recent international period. That role says as much as the cap total does.
| National Team | Caps | Goals | Tournament Involvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 35 | 1 | Tokyo 2020 Olympics, FIFA World Cup 2026 squad, regular senior starter |
Playing Style and Key Strengths
Cacace is an attacking left-back who likes to drive forward early. His left foot gives him crossing range, and his engine lets him recover after advanced runs. Coaches also trust him in a back five because he can defend wider spaces alone.
Position, role, and standout qualities
His best role comes on the left of a back four or as a wing-back. Cacace carries the ball with confidence and can break lines with low cut-backs. Yet the main change in Europe has been defensive detail, which now looks sharper than it did in his early Phoenix seasons.
Honours and Trophies
| Honour | Team | Season or Year |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Kewell Medal | Individual | 2020 |
| Revera Members U-23 Player of the Year | Wellington Phoenix | 2019 |
| OFC Men’s Nations Cup Best Player | New Zealand | 2024 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Liberato Cacace is 25 years old and he represents New Zealand. He was born in Wellington on September 27, 2000.
He plays for Wrexham AFC in the Championship. Public player records list his contract there through June 30, 2028.
Yes. New Zealand Football named him in the official 26-man squad announced on May 14, 2026. The same release listed him on 35 caps and one goal.
He is an attack-minded left-back who can also play as a wing-back. His best traits are forward running, left-footed delivery, and recovery speed.
No verified public source currently confirms Liberato Cacace’s exact Wrexham salary or private net worth. Both figures will be updated soon when a reliable financial source appears.
Conclusion
Liberato Cacace enters the 2026 World Cup as one of New Zealand’s strongest defenders. He brings Serie A experience, Championship minutes, and a steady international record. The left side of the All Whites changes shape because of his runs, and that makes him one of the most important names in the squad.