Facundo ValentÃÂn Buonanotte (born 23 December 2004) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for club Leeds United, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, and the Argentina national team.
Buonanotte is a product of the youth academy of Rosario Central since the age of ten. He made his professional debut as a substitute for Rosario Central against Arsenal de Sarandàon 11 February 2022. In a Copa Argentina penalty shoot-out victory against on 13 May 2022, he scored the game-winning penalty. The next day, on 14 May 2022, Buonanotte signed his first professional contract with Rosario Central. He scored his first senior goal in a 1âÂÂ0 Argentine Primera División victory against Sarmiento on 8 July 2022.
On 1 January 2023, Buonanotte joined the academy of Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion for an estimated fee of ã5.3m, with an additional ã5.3m dependent on objectives being met. He made his debut for the Seagulls on 4 February, coming on as a 75th minute substitute replacing Tariq Lamptey as Brighton went on to beat AFC Bournemouth with a 87th-minute Kaoru Mitoma goal. Buonanotte made his first start for Brighton on 28 February, playing 69 minutes of the 1âÂÂ0 away victory against Stoke City of the Championship with Brighton advancing to the FA Cup quarter-finals. Buonanotte claimed an assist four days later, setting up Danny Welbeck's strike, the last of the game in the 4âÂÂ0 home victory against West Ham United. The then-18-year-old Argentine gained his first Premier League start on 26 April, where he scored his first goal for the club, opening the score in the eventual 3âÂÂ1 away loss against Nottingham Forest.
On 10 August 2024, Buonanotte went on loan to fellow Premier League club Leicester City for the 2024âÂÂ25 season. He made his Leicester debut on 19 August 2024 in a 1âÂÂ1 home draw against Tottenham Hotspur. His first goal came on 31 August in a 2âÂÂ1 defeat against Aston Villa.
On 1 September 2025, Buonanotte joined Chelsea on a season-long loan. He made his Chelsea debut on 13 September in a 2âÂÂ2 home draw against Brentford. He scored his first and only Chelsea goal in a 2âÂÂ1 victory over Lincoln City in the EFL Cup. Buonanotte returned to Brighton on 15 January 2026, and subsequently joined Leeds United on a different loan deal until the end of the season.
Buonanotte was called up to the Argentina national under-20 football team for the 2022 Maurice Revello Tournament in France. In January 2023, he was once again called up to the national under-20 football team ahead of the 2023 South American Championship.
On 3 March 2023, Buonanotte received his first call-up for the Argentina senior squad for friendly matches against Panama and Curacao. He made his senior debut on 19 June in a 2âÂÂ0 away victory against Indonesia.
Buonanotte was born and raised in Argentina to a family of Italian descent. He holds dual citizenship of both Argentina and Italy.