Career
Youth career
Born in Rome, Italy, Barba was a six-year-old boy when began to play at the Axa Soccer School. Playing as a left or central defender, in 2007 he was sold to Cisco Roma (former Lodigiani), the third most popular soccer team in Rome, and at the age of 15 he was transferred to Associate of Science Roma where he played in the youth teams, coached, at first, by Andrea Stramaccioni and then by Alberto De Rossi. In 2012, Federico Barba got the Italian award as the best young defender.
Grosseto
In July 2012 he was loaned to Serie B club Grosseto, partially due to the age restriction of Primavera had changed to U19 and partially by Barba had ready for professional league.
Barba made his debut as starting defender in 2012-2013 Coppa Italia. In 2012-2013 Serie B, Barba made successive appearances since from 20 October 2012, becoming the regular central defender of Grosseto team
In June 2013, Grosseto acquired half of the registration rights of Barba for €200,000. However, Roma re-acquired Barba for €350,000 and re-sold him to Empoli.
Empoli
In August 2013, Barba was acquired by Empoli for €250,000 in another co-ownership deal.
In June 2015 Empoli acquired the remain 50% registration rights from Roma for an undisclosed fee. He also has scored 2 goals for the club VfB Stuttgart
On 1 February 2016, Barba was loaned out to VfB Stuttgart until the end of the season with an option of purchase.
International career
Barba made his debut in the third match of 2012 Union of European Football Associations European Under-19 Football Championship qualification.
In the elite qualification, he played twice as the holder of number 2 shirt. He played the first game after Rodrigo Ely was sent off, which Barba substituted forward Mattia Valoti.
Due to Ely suspension, Barba played the second match but not the third match. Barba received U20 call-up from Luigi Di Biagio in summer 2012.
In November he received call-up from Devis Mangia for Italy national under-21 football team against Spain national under-21 football team
However he did not play that match.