Kayode Italy choice was straightforward, the Brentford defender says, after Nigeria approached him before his first senior call-up for Italy

Michael Kayode, the 22-year-old Brentford defender, confirmed on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, in Italy that the Nigeria Football Federation approached him about representing the Super Eagles, but said his years in the Italian youth system made his decision to remain with Italy straightforward.

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Kayode is preparing for his first senior appearance for Italy after being named in Roberto Mancini’s 34-man squad for the UEFA Nations League. Italy’s opening fixtures include matches against Belgium, Turkey and France.

The defender said his international path had already been closely tied to Italy before Nigeria made its approach.

“It was a very easy decision. I went through all the youth teams here. Nigeria approached me, but I never thought about changing national teams,” Kayode said at a press conference reported by Football Italia.

Kayode added that representing Italy remained an honour for him, reflecting a relationship that began well before his breakthrough in the Premier League.

Born in Borgomanero, Italy, to Nigerian parents, Kayode represented Italy at Under-18 level before becoming one of the defining players of the country’s victorious Under-19 European Championship campaign in 2023.

He scored the winning goal against Portugal in the final, helping Italy secure the Under-19 European title.

Kayode subsequently progressed to the Under-21 side before receiving his first senior invitation.

His senior call-up came at a memorable moment in his club career. Kayode said he did not know he had been selected for Italy until after Brentford’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Chelsea on 18 September.

“I found out at the final whistle, on my phone. It was an incredible emotion, especially after such a big win,” he said.

The timing added a personal touch to a significant week for the young defender. Kayode had contributed to Brentford’s growing reputation in England during his first full season in the Premier League, earning a new six-year contract in July.

His rise has been anything but linear.

After leaving Juventus as a youngster, Kayode spent time with Serie D club Gozzano before Fiorentina gave him a route back towards elite football.

He eventually established himself in Serie A, making 49 appearances for Fiorentina before moving to Brentford.

Brentford initially brought Kayode to England on loan in January 2025. The move was subsequently made permanent, and his progress in the Premier League earned him a new long-term contract in 2026.

His international breakthrough has also coincided with one of the more distinctive features of his game: his long throw-ins.

Kayode said the ability developed almost unexpectedly and became a more prominent weapon after he moved to England, where Brentford have worked with a specialist coach on throw-in routines.

“I woke up one day and discovered I had a long throw,” Kayode said in comments published by the Italian Football Federation.

He added that the technique had not been used as much during his time in Florence but had become part of Brentford’s tactical work.

The throws can travel more than 65 metres, according to the Italian federation, turning what might ordinarily be a simple restart into a useful attacking tool.

Kayode has also identified Italian football legend Paolo Maldini as his principal inspiration, particularly because of Maldini’s approach to defending.

“Many full-backs inspire me, but the main one is Maldini. I love defending,” Kayode said, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

His first senior Italy call-up represents the latest stage of a pathway that began in the country’s youth teams and now extends to the Premier League.

For Nigeria, Kayode’s decision closes off an option at right-back, although his international eligibility had remained a point of interest because of his Nigerian family background.

For Kayode, however, the choice was presented less as a rejection of Nigeria than as a continuation of the footballing journey he had already built in Italy.

“I’ve always considered it an honour to be part of this national team,” Kayode told Italian reporters.

With Italy beginning a new cycle under Mancini after missing the 2026 World Cup, Kayode is among a group of uncapped players being given an opportunity at senior level. Reuters reported that Mancini selected nine uncapped players in his 34-man squad as he reshapes the side.

Kayode could therefore make his senior debut after progressing through almost the entire Italian international system, from the youth ranks to the national team.

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For a player who once had to rebuild his career outside Italy’s top flight, the moment marks a striking new chapter in a journey that has taken him from Serie D to the Premier League and now to the Azzurri.