Serie A wonderkid signs ‘anti-Arsenal contract’
Robin Bairner
- 26 Oct 2023 08:11 BST
- 3 min read
Fiorentina’s Michael Kayode has signed a deal that has been dubbed an ‘anti-Arsenal contract’ in Italy.
The 19-year-old has been one of the breakout players of the Serie A season, taking his chance impressively since regular right-back Dodo suffered a serious knee injury.
Kayode, who is an Italy U21 international, has featured eight times across all competitions for the Viola, having not made his debut for the club until the opening day of the Serie A season against Genoa.
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His performances had caught the eye of several Premier League scouts and it had been Arsenal who were keeping a close eye on his progress, with the Gunners short in the right-back position. In particular, he shone against Napoli, tying Khvicha Kvaratskhelia up
Fiorentina had no intention of allowing the teenager to leave, but under contract until 2025, there was a fear that Arsenal’s financial muscle might force them into a sale either during the January transfer window or, more likely, next summer.
Kayode, though, has signed a new three-year extension with the Serie A outfit in what Calciomercato dubs as “an anti-Arsenal contract”. His contract will expire in 2028.
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Kayo 🚂 2028 💜⚜️#ForzaViola #Fiorentina #ACFFiorentina pic.twitter.com/T8PAXYoDgD
— ACF Fiorentina (@acffiorentina) October 25, 2023
Kayode remains one to watch
Kayode has a quickly growing reputation and is a player that Mikel Arteta’s side will doubtless be keeping tabs on in the months ahead.
He first caught the attention of the public at large during the 2022 U19 European Championship finals, in which he helped Italy to the title thanks to a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the final.
It was a tournament in which he showcased his versatility, turning out at right-back, left midfield and right wing for Italy’s youths.
Alberto Bollini, the U19 coach at the time, said: “He could be a decathlete; he has strength, resistance and speed.”
He is expected to feature for Fiorentina against Cukaricki in the Conference League on Thursday.
