Michael Kayode

Michael Olabode Kayode (born 10 July 2004) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Premier League club Brentford.

Michael Kayode

Personal information
Full name	Michael Olabode Kayode
Date of birth	(2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth	Borgomanero, Italy
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Brentford
Number	33
Youth career
2014−2018	Juventus
2018−2020	Gozzano
2021−2023	Fiorentina
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020−2021	Gozzano	34	(2)
2021−2025	Fiorentina	31	(1)
2025	→ Brentford (loan)	12	(0)
2025–	Brentford	0	(0)
International career‡
2021−2022	Italy U18	4	(0)
2022−2023	Italy U19	12	(1)
2023−	Italy U21	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:28, 28 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 March 2024

Early life

Born in Italy, Kayode is of Nigerian descent.^[1]

Club career

Gozzano

The son of Yoruba parents, Kayode started his youth career at Juventus, where he remained for seven years until 2018.^[2][3] He played the 2020–21 season with Serie D club Gozzano, with which he scored two goals and two assists in 34 matches, and gained promotion to Serie C.^[2] He cited his experience in Serie D as "a step backwards to make two forwards".^[2]

Fiorentina

Kayode joined Fiorentina after his spell in Serie D in 2021 and was integrated into their youth sector.^[2] With Fiorentina, he won one Coppa Italia Primavera and one Supercoppa Italiana Primavera.^[3]

On 19 August 2023, Kayode made his Serie A debut for Fiorentina in a 4–1 away victory over Genoa.^[4] By the end of the season, Kayode had become a regular in Fiorentina's first team with his performances reportedly attracting international attention from clubs around Europe,^[5][6] featuring heavily in Serie A and in the squad that reached the final of the UEFA Conference League.^[7]

Loan to Brentford

On 24 January 2025, Brentford announced that they had signed Kayode on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season, with an option to make the deal permanent at the end of it.^[8] Brentford officially signed Kayode permanently in May 2025, in the deal that lasts until 2030.^[9]

International career

In July 2023, Kayode's 19th minute goal decided the final of the 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, which Italy won 1–0 to Portugal.^[2]

On 17 October 2023 he made his debut with the Italy U21, in the qualifying match won 2–0 against Norway in Bolzano.

Career statistics

As of match played 25 May 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Gozzano	2020–21	Serie D	34	2	—		—		—		—		34	2
Fiorentina	2023–24	Serie A	26	1	4	0	—		6[a]	0	1[b]	0	37	1
	2024–25	Serie A	5	0	0	0	—		7[a]	0	—		12	0
	Total		31	1	4	0	0	0	13	0	1	0	49	1
Brentford (loan)	2024–25	Premier League	12	0	—		—		—		—		12	0
Career total			77	3	4	0	0	0	13	0	1	0	95	3

1. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
2. Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana

Honours

Italy U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2023^[10]

Fiorentina U19

• Supercoppa Primavera: 2021–22,^[11] 2023–24^[12]
• Coppa Italia Primavera: 2021–22

Fiorentina

• UEFA Europa Conference League runner-up: 2023–24^[7]

Individual

• Best Italian Player Under 21: 2024