Arsenal dealt huge blow to plans to sign teenage wonderkid - Fabrizio Romano

Carlo Garganese

17 Oct 2023 07:58 BST
3 min read

Arsenal have been dealt a big blow in their hopes to sign Fiorentina wonderkid Michael Kayode as the teenager is set to sign a new contract.

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According to multiple reports, including from Fabrizio Romano and Nicolo Schira, Kayode has agreed a new contract in Florence until June 2028.

The deal will be made official imminently.

Kayode’s initial contract at Fiorentina had been due to expire in 2025, and he is currently earning just €30,000 per year.

Arsenal have been widely reported as being 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.

Kayode, 19, is a right back or right wing-back who is comfortable playing anywhere down the right hand side, including as a right winger.

He has become a regular for Fiorentina at right-back this season, playing in the last five matches for the club and impressing massively in the 3-1 over Napoli at the Stadio Maradona earlier this month.

2004 and pocketing Kvara + contributing in attack

Italy finally has a second good RB

Kayode 🤲 pic.twitter.com/wntsUg62KV
— Nycjuventus Incognito 🥷 (@SerieAScout_) October 12, 2023

Kayode marked Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia well but also impressed as an attacking force with his physicality, pace and directness.

Kayode bursts onto the scene

The teenager burst onto the scene during Italy Under-19s European Championship victory this past summer.

He scored the winner in the final with a header against Portugal to win the trophy for Italy. He has now been moved up to the Italy Under-21 team.

Kayode is considered one of the most promising youngsters in Serie A and one of the very few teenagers in the league to get regular playing time.

Arsenal’s chances of signing him in January now look very slim but given their long-standing interest they could return next summer with a bigger offer.