Report suggests that Nigeria are trying to persuade Michael Kayode to switch allegiance, with the claim emerging soon after the Brentford full-back’s late Italy Under-21 call-up.
Michael Kayode has been linked with a possible international switch to Nigeria, with SportsBoom alleging that the Brentford defender is being targeted by the Super Eagles setup ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The report claims Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle is keen to meet Kayode in an attempt to convince him to represent the country at senior level.
Kayode is still eligible to make that choice because he has yet to make a senior appearance for Italy. Reportedly leaving the door open for Nigeria to make its move, particularly after the 21-year-old missed out on Gennaro Gattuso’s latest senior squad. The report says his absence from Italy’s senior selections has “potentially reopened the door” for Nigeria.
That omission had already become a talking point. Kayode was not included in Italy’s senior squad and was also absent from Silvio Baldini’s original Under-21 selection before later joining up with the younger group. His eventual inclusion softened the immediate reaction, but it did not remove the broader question over where he currently stands in Italy’s pathway. Baldini later explained that Kayode’s delayed arrival was due to additional medical checks in Rome before he was cleared to join the squad.
What makes the situation more interesting is Kayode’s long-standing connection to Italy. The 21-year-old has already represented Italy at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 level, while the Italian federation previously carried his comment that his “dream is to play for the senior National Team”. He also scored the winner for Italy in the 2023 European Under-19 Championship final, which underlined how firmly he had been placed in that setup.
Kayode has long looked part of Italy’s future, but the route to senior international football no longer appears quite so straightforward. Missing out on the senior squad, then only joining the Under-21s later, has inevitably created uncertainty. If SportsBoom’s report is accurate, Nigeria are trying to act at a moment when Brentford’s full-back may be more open to considering whether his clearest path at international level now lies elsewhere.
The timing is what gives the story extra intrigue. Both Italy and Nigeria have already missed the 2026 World Cup, leaving both countries in a period of reset. That could make this the ideal moment for Kayode to take stock of his international future, with Italy reassessing its pathway and Nigeria looking for fresh options ahead of AFCON 2027.