Serie A club Atalanta have just completed the signing of highly-rated teenager Honest Ovonranwen Ahanor in a massive €20 million deal, adding one of Italy’s most exciting young defenders to their squad ahead of the 2025–26 season, Footynaija.com reports.
Born in Aversa, Italy to Nigerian parents, Ahanor’s move to Bergamo marks a major leap in his career. At just 17 years old, he has already drawn attention for his maturity, speed, and defensive intelligence.
His new adventure at Atalanta puts him in direct connection with Lookman, who has become one of the club’s most consistent performers since joining Leicester City.
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Ahanor started out with Genoa, spending more than a decade in their youth ranks. Last season, he helped the club’s U18 side win the national championship and quickly made the jump into senior football.
He debuted in Serie A on 28 September 2024 against Juventus, becoming the first 2008-born player to start a league game that season. He went on to feature in six league matches, starting three of them and even scored his first Serie A goal in a 2–2 draw with Napoli.
As revealed by football journalist Ben Jacobs, Atalanta reached an agreement with Genoa for a deal worth €20m fee with €3m in add-ons. The massive deal shows how much belief the club has in the teenage sensation.
While Ahanor has yet to represent Italy or Nigeria at youth level, he remains eligible for either nation. That uncertainty keeps the Nigeria Football Federation on alert, especially with his growing reputation in Europe.
