Cagliari arrange medical for Super Eagles hopeful eager to leave France

Cagliari have reached a total agreement to sign OGC Nice striker Kevin Carlos, with the Spanish-Nigerian forward now set to undergo his medical examinations before completing a move to Serie A, Soccernet.ng reports.

The proposed transfer is structured as a loan deal with an option to buy, with the permanent fee expected to be between €3.5 million and €4 million, according to Tutto Atalanta. Carlos has already agreed long-term personal terms with Cagliari, leaving the medical as one of the final steps before the move can be made official.

The 25-year-old is preparing to leave France after only one season at Nice, where his €6m move from FC Basel did not produce the kind of domestic numbers expected from a striker who had impressed in Switzerland.

Cagliari moved strongly for Carlos and won the race ahead of fellow Serie A club Venezia and English club Preston North End. The Italian club see the forward as a player who can offer more attacking options after a difficult 2025-26 campaign in which they finished 14th in Serie A with 43 points from 38 matches.

Serie A: Carlos sees Cagliari as route to Super Eagles breakthrough

Carlos' move to Italy comes at an important stage of his career because his international future is also becoming clearer. Born in Spain, the striker has publicly expressed his desire to represent Nigeria rather than Spain at senior level.

That decision gives his move to Cagliari added importance. Regular Serie A football would put Carlos in direct competition with some of Europe's most experienced defenders and give him a bigger stage on which to prove that he can produce consistently at a top European level.

His first season at Nice was difficult. After joining from Basel, Carlos made 24 Ligue 1 appearances but played only 911 minutes. He did not score or provide an assist in the French top flight and was often introduced late in matches rather than trusted to lead the attack from the start.

European competition offered a different picture. Carlos scored twice in eight Europa League appearances, showing some of the finishing ability that had helped attract Nice to him in the first place. Before completing his move to France last August, he had also scored once in four Swiss Super League appearances for Basel.

Cagliari also have something to prove after a demanding Serie A season. They won 11 of their 38 league matches, drew 10 and lost 17, scoring 40 goals while conceding 53. Their minus-13 goal difference showed the problems they faced throughout the campaign.

The arrival of Carlos could therefore give both sides a chance to reset. Cagliari need greater attacking threat, while Carlos needs regular minutes after struggling to establish himself at Nice.

With his medical now arranged and personal terms already agreed, the next stage is for the Spanish-Nigerian forward to complete the formalities and begin his new chapter in Italy.

Kevin is not the only Nigerian to move to the Italian Serie A this summer, with Super Eagles stars Kevin Akpoguma and Akor Adams joining Frosinone and Venezia, respectively.