Verdi started playing football with amateur club Audax Travacò, before joining Milan at the age of 11.

[2] He made his professional debut for the club, aged 17, in a Coppa Italia game against Novara, on 13 January 2010.

[4] While playing for the under-20 squad, the young striker scored his first goal at the San Siro in the return leg of the Primavera Cup final, on 14 April 2010.

[7] In May 2010, Milan CEO Adriano Galliani announced that Verdi, along with three other teammates, was expected to join the senior team permanently for the 2010–11 season.

[10] At the beginning of the 2011–12 season, Verdi transferred to Serie B club Torino in a co-ownership deal for €2.5 million (exchanged with Gianmario Comi and €150,000 cash).

[11][12][13] He made his official debut for the club in the first league game of the season, a 2–1 away win against Ascoli on 27 August 2011.

[26] On 21 January Verdi was made captain of Bologna following his decision to decline a move to Napoli in the transfer window.

On 28 March 2017, Verdi made his senior international debut for the Italy national football team, along with four other players, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 friendly away win against the Netherlands.

In the 2016–17 Serie A season he was also noted for his shooting power and ability to score goals from long range, including free kicks.