By Oluwamayowa Fakande
Fiorentina right-back Michael Kayode has been named the Best Young Italian Player in the 2024 Golden Boy Awards.
The announcement was made on the Golden Boy X handle on Wednesday, celebrating Kayode’s outstanding season with the Serie A club.
“Best Italian Player Under 21 is MICHAEL KAYODE! Congratulations to @acffiorentina full-back for his incredible season!” the tweet read.
Born in Bergamo, Italy, to Nigerian parents, Kayode began his youth career at Juventus, where he spent seven years before moving on in 2018.
The 20-year-old spent the 2020–21 season with Serie D club Gozzano, where he scored two goals and provided two assists in 34 appearances, helping the club secure promotion to Serie C.
In 2021, Kayode joined Fiorentina and quickly made a name for himself within their youth sector. He won both the Coppa Italia Primavera and the Supercoppa Italiana Primavera with the club.
Kayode made his Serie A debut for Fiorentina on August 19, 2023, in a 4–1 victory over Genoa.
By the end of the season, he had become a regular in the first team, with his performances drawing attention from top European clubs. He also played a significant role in Fiorentina’s run to the UEFA Conference League final.
