Nigerian-born left-footed defender Honest Ovonranwen Ahanor has officially joined Serie A club Atalanta, where he will team up with Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman, the club announced on Friday.
The 16-year-old sensation, signed from fellow Italian side Genoa, becomes Atalanta’s third summer acquisition, following the arrivals of Odilon Kossounou from Bayer Leverkusen and Kamaldeen Sulemana from Southampton.
Ahanor made headlines last season as the first player born in 2008 to feature in Italy’s top flight. He made his full Serie A debut for Genoa at just 16 years old in a high-profile clash against Juventus and went on to make six appearances in total during the 2024–25 campaign.
Atalanta, in a statement on their official website, described the youngster as a promising addition to their squad:
“Born on February 23, 2008, in Aversa to Nigerian parents, Honest joined Genoa’s youth sector when he was still a child,” the club wrote. “He is a highly regarded young defender with a strong left foot and considerable potential.”
Ahanor’s move to Bergamo not only signals Atalanta’s continued investment in youth talent but also raises anticipation among Nigerian football fans, as he remains eligible to represent Nigeria at international level. He has yet to feature for Italy at any age group, making his path to a Super Eagles call-up more straightforward.
With Ahanor now joining Lookman at the club, the Nigerian contingent at Atalanta continues to grow — a promising development for both club and country.
