Who is Michael Kayode? The Fiorentina & Italy Under-19 hero wanted by Arsenal

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 17 Oct 2023 13:27 BST
• 4 min read

Michael Kayode has been one of the emerging teenagers to catch the eye in Serie A in the first weeks of the 2023-24 Serie A season.

The 19-year-old right back has broken into the Fiorentina first team on the back of an impressive Euro Under-19 Championship in the summer.

So what do we know about Kayode?

What club does Michael Kayode play for?

Kayode plays for Fiorentina in the Italian Serie A.

What position does Michael Kayode play in?

Kayode is a right back or right wing-back but is comfortable playing anywhere down the right hand side, including as a right winger.

How good is Michael Kayode?

Kayode is very fast, athletic and physically strong right-back.

He covers long distances on the pitch with his long strides very swiftly and boasts impressive upper-body strength despite his young age.

He is also very good in the air, with an excellent leap above his marker.

Kayode possesses an incredible long throw, able to lob the ball huge distances into the box.

The teenager really exploded onto the scene during Italy Under-19’s European Championship title victory in the summer of 2023.

In an impressive Italy team that also contained Cher Ndour and Samuele Vignato, Kayode stole the show.

Starting the tournament as a right back, he was moved into the right wing role in the knockouts in place of new Burnley star Luca Koleosho.

Kayode ran Spain rampant in the semi-finals with his direct running and did the same to Portugal in the final.

He scored the winner in the showpiece against Portugal to crown a superb tournament in which he also made six key passes, created three big chances and completed eight dribbles.

Kayode has since been promoted to the Italy Under-21 squad.

He has also broken into the Fiorentina first-team this season, and is set for even more regular game time following the injury to Dodo.

Kayode grew up in the Juventus youth system for seven years before leaving for Gozzano. He joined the Fiorentina Primavera team in 2021 and has made great progress since.

What clubs are interested in Michael Kayode?

Arsenal are reported to be interested in signing Kayode and have been monitoring the Italian for a number of months.

The Gunners sent scouts to Florence to watch Kayode play in the 3-0 win over Cagliari in October 2023, a game in which he grabbed an assist.

He is paid just €30,000 a season at Fiorentina, but the Viola are close to extending his contract until 2028. His current deal runs out from 2025.

How old is Michael Kayode?

Kayode is 19 years old. He was born on 10 July 2004.