The Fiorentina right-back has immersed himself onto the World stage after an impressive debut season in the Serie A.
Having spent four years in the Juventus academy, Micheal Kayode’s first taste of professional football came in 2020 for Gozzano. The youngster endured instant success as Gozzano secured promotion to the Serie C with Kayode being a regular within the side.
The recruitment team at Fiorentina were quick to pounce on the hot-prospect as he moved to Florence to play within their youth ranks.
Having shown great grit and patience, Kayode made his first team debut in August 2023 in a 4-1 win away at Genoa.
Since then Kayode has been a key figure for Fiorentina having played 26 times last campaign. Fiorentina and Kayode finished 8th in the Serie A as well as reaching the UEFA Conference League Final where they fell to a late defeat.
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What does Micheal Kayode offer?
The right-back has an elite level of athleticism which helps him be dominant both sides of the ball. Standing at '5ft 10in', Kayode has a wide frame which allows for an impressive upper-body strength to bully attackers.
The Italian has a quick release of speed which aids his recovery runs as well as making him a tricky man to beat in a 1v1 situation.
On the ball, Kayode has good dribbling skills which combatted with his electrifying speed, makes him a defenders nightmare.
Considering his young age, Kayode has patience on the ball and boasts mounds of composure and concentration. The Italian Under 21’s fine tuned passing helps compliment his all-round ability.
One of the reasons for being so in demand, Kayode is somewhat of a managers dream as he offers a rare trait of versatility. Whilst favouring right-back, Kayode can slot in on the opposite wing and have a similar impact.
Most importantly, Kayode has much of his playing career ahead of him and any potential buyer will be gunning to get his services on a long term deal.
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How much will Kayode cost?
With the likes of Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa all being admirers of the defender, Fiorentina’s financial struggles play into the hands of any buyer.
Despite fans reluctance to sell their starlet, according to Corriere dello Sport, a £17 million fee should be enough to persuade Fiorentina to sell Kayode.
La Viola’s initial valuation was believed to be £25 million but the figure was reduced to inspire a bid from one of the several clubs interested.
It is likely that Kayode would like to sign for a club that ensures he will be playing regular first team football. With Fiorentina currently on a pre-season tour in England, it would not be a surprise if a swift transfer will arise from a Premier League club in the coming weeks.
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What will Kayode’s departure mean for Fiorentina?
La Viola have fell to defeat in consecutive Conference League finals with a team full of talent and promise but their current transfer embargo sees the club in a position of worry.
The Italian side’s defence has already took a stellar blow with further damage on the horizon.
Star defender, Nikola Milenkovic has been snapped up by Nottingham Forest for a bargaining fee of £12 million. The Serbia international’s departure was not well received in Florence.
A swift replacement was in order as Fiorentina signed Marin Pongracic for a similar fee. The Croatian has huge boots to fill but he holds decent potential.
Nicolas Valentini will arrive from Boca Juniors in January to offer reinforcements in centre-back as he continues to impress in South America.
A once record signing, Nico Gonzalez, maybe shifted out to wing-back to cover the gap Kayode will leave should he depart Fiorentina.
La Viola will not panic too much if Dodo remains on their roster. The Brazilian right-back is a complete defender with an excellent work-rate. The only worry for Fiorentina is that he could also be cashed in to help shrug off financial worries.
The rumours continue to circulate around Kayode, but no matter where he ends up this coming season, be sure that he has the potential to become one of the best defenders in World football.
