Brentford have officially announced the acquisition of Italy-born Nigerian defender Michael Kayode on a loan deal from Fiorentina.
In a statement released on their website on Friday, Brentford confirmed the details of the transfer.
“Defender Michael Kayode has joined Brentford on loan from Italian side Fiorentina, subject to international clearance. The deal includes an option to make the transfer permanent in the summer.
“The right-back enjoyed a breakout season last term, playing 26 games in Serie A, scoring one goal and providing two assists.
“Kayode was also a regular fixture in La Viola’s run to the UEFA Europa Conference League final, which they lost to Olympiacos, making six appearances in the European competition.
“This term, the 20-year-old has played 12 times in all competitions.”
Kayode began his football journey in Juventus’ youth academy, where he spent seven years before departing in 2018.
Following his time at Juventus, he joined Serie D side Gozzano, where his performances stood out. During the 2020/21 season, as a 16-year-old, he featured in 34 games, scoring twice and contributing two assists to help Gozzano secure promotion to Serie C.
His impressive displays earned him a move to Fiorentina, where he initially joined the youth setup.
Kayode eventually made his Serie A debut in a 4-1 away victory against Genoa in 2023.
By the end of the season, he had established himself as a first-team regular, amassing a total of 49 appearances for Fiorentina.
