Italian Players Off to Flying Premier League Starts: Kayode and Calafiori Impress
Quick summary
Feature on Italian nationals making strong early impressions in the Premier League, with Brentford's Michael Kayode and Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori highlighted among the standout performers.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceLeague football is back this weekend, and not only in Serie A: Action in the Premier League is now well underway as well and things couldn’t have got off to a better start for Italy international Riccardo Calafiori and U21 star Michael Kayode. Here is a look at how the Italy internationals in the Premier League got on on Friday and Saturday.
Italy stars Calafiori and Kayode hit the ground running in the Premier League The Premier League season began with reigning champions in action against newly-promoted Coventry City on Friday evening.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsenal FC and Coventry City at Emirates Stadium on August 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) Mikel Arteta’s side started as they meant to go on, setting the pace for the rest of the league with a routine 3-0 victory at home at The Emirates.
Italy international Calafiori was included in the Arsenal starting line-up, played 81 minutes at left-back in a back four, helped his side to keeping their first league clean sheet of the season and also provided an assist for the opening goal of the game (and the opening goal of the 2026-27 Premier League season).
It was his low cross in from the left flank that landed perfectly at the feet of Kai Havertz to sweep home in the centre of the penalty area.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: Kai Havertz of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Riccardo Calafiori during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsenal FC and Coventry City at Emirates Stadium on August 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) With his goal against Manchester City in the Community Shield last weekend, the Italy international has recorded a goal involvement and a clean sheet in 3-0 wins in both of his first two competitive appearances of the season.
It was also a flying start for Italy U21 star Kayode, who also chipped in with a goal in a 3-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon.
The former Fiorentina right-back was in the right place at the right time to stick a leg out and poke the ball into the roof of the net from the second phase of a corner as Brentford swept Spurs aside at the Gtech Community Stadium.
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 22: Michael Kayode of Brentford celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur at Gtech Community Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Much had been made of Tottenham and their summer spending under Italian head coach Roberto De Zerbi before the start of the Premier League season, but it appears that the North Londoners may still be struggling with the hangover after back-to-back 17th-place finishes in 2024-25 and 2025-26.
It was a particularly poor afternoon for Italy international Sandro Tonali, who joined Tottenham in a national record €115m transfer from Newcastle earlier this summer.
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 22: Sandro Tonali of Tottenham Hotspur applauds the fans at full-time following defeat in the Premier League 2026/27 match between Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur at Gtech Community Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) BBC Sport gave the Italy star a rating of just 4/10 for his performance on his first Premier League appearance for Tottenham, labelling it a ‘desperately poor debut’.
There was a short cameo from another Italy international in Destiny Udgoie for the final five minutes of the Brentford 3-0 Tottenham game, but his outing was too short to have any real impact on the game.
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 22: Roberto De Zerbi, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur at Gtech Community Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Competition from new signing Andrew Robertson may see the Italy left-back harder pressed for minutes in the Premier League this season.
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What happened
The article surveys Italian players currently featuring in the Premier League and assesses their early-season form. Michael Kayode, on loan at Brentford from Fiorentina, and Riccardo Calafiori, signed by Arsenal from Bologna, are singled out as two of the most impressive Italian talents adapting to English football. The piece situates their performances within the broader trend of Serie A exports thriving in England's top flight, noting the variety of roles and clubs represented by Italian internationals in the division.
Chance analysis
The early success of Kayode and Calafiori underscores how Italian football continues to export high-quality talent to the Premier League, with both players already justifying significant transfer and loan investment. For Arsenal, Calafiori's seamless transition adds crucial versatility to their defensive options, while Brentford have secured a promising loan addition in Kayode. Their form is a positive signal for the clubs involved and reinforces the growing Italian footprint in England's top flight.
Calafiori and Kayode both settling in well provides their respective clubs (Arsenal and Brentford) with reliable squad depth early in the season.