Brighton and Nottingham Forest have entered the race for Nigeria and Atalanta’s fast-rising teenage defender Honest Ahanor, Soccernet.ng reports
Sport Witness reports that the two Premier League clubs have expressed interest in the 17-year-old Nigerian prospect, who has impressed in his debut season with Atalanta.
The youngster, who joined the Bergamo side from Genoa in the summer, has made an immediate impression in Serie A and the Champions League, prompting early enquiries from Premier League scouts.
Ahanor has already featured seven times in the league this season and has collected three Champions League appearances, lining up against Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain and Club Brugge. His rapid climb has been closely tracked by recruitment departments across England, and it has now been revealed that both Forest and Brighton have now formally registered their interest.
The two clubs are understood to be at the exploratory stage, with no negotiations underway.
But insiders believe the admiration is genuine and could intensify as the January window approaches.
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Atalanta set firm stance for Nigeria's hottest U20 talent
Reports in Italy suggest Atalanta will not consider any approach below €40 million, double the fee they paid Genoa just months ago.
English clubs are believed to be ‘increasingly attentive' to Ahanor’s progress, while Chelsea reportedly attempted to sign him in June, only for Atalanta to move faster.
Ahanor has not only impressed domestically; he has also become Nigeria’s most valuable teenager, according to the latest Transfermarkt valuations. The left-back, who can also operate as a left centre-back or left midfielder, is now priced at €20 million, making him the highest-valued Nigerian footballer under 20 and one of the top-rated young defenders in Italian football.
Born in Campania to Nigerian parents and raised entirely within the Italian system, Ahanor remains eligible only for Nigeria under current legislation. Italian law no longer grants automatic citizenship at birth to children of foreign parents, meaning he can only apply when he turns 18 and meets residency requirements. Until then, his international future is firmly aligned with the Super Eagles.
