Eric Chelle has given the green light for the NFF to hold direct talks with Brentford right-back Michael Kayode, after Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso left the 21-year-old out of the World Cup squad and the door for a Nigeria switch swung wide open.
The window to land Michael Kayode for Nigeria may never be wider than it is right now. Brentford’s right-back, born in Italy to Nigerian parents, has represented Italy at youth level from U18 through to U21, but has never made a senior competitive appearance for the Azzurri. Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso left Kayode out of his 2026 World Cup squad following Italy’s qualifying campaign, a decision that directly triggered the NFF’s approach. Under FIFA regulations, a player who has not appeared in a senior competitive international remains eligible to switch, and Kayode fits that criteria precisely. Chelle has approved a face-to-face meeting ahead of the June international window.
Sources within the NFF confirmed the development, with one official describing the first contact as positive. “The first reaction was positive and we hope to hold more talks in the summer,” the source said. Kayode’s own position has been described as one of openness rather than resistance. He is aware of his Nigerian heritage, both parents are Nigerian, and the absence from Gattuso’s World Cup plans has made the Italian path considerably less clear than it appeared even six months ago. Nigerian fans following the push to bring more diaspora players into the squad can check out Bet9ja’s YOHAIG promo code before the summer transfer and international window opens.
The Kayode pursuit fits into Chelle’s broader recruitment strategy for this cycle. He has already brought in Emmanuel Fernandez, Felix Agu and others via the diaspora route, with the Unity Cup serving as the practical testing ground for these new additions. Kayode’s profile is different from all of them: he is a Premier League regular at 21, valued at around €35 million, with top-level European experience and the physical tools to compete at the highest level immediately.
What Kayode Brings to the Super Eagles
At Brentford, Kayode has made 26 Premier League appearances this season and established himself as one of the division’s more dynamic right-backs. His pace going forward, his ability to deliver from wide positions, and his trademark long throw-ins have made him a distinctive presence in Thomas Frank’s system. He scored the winning goal for Italy in the 2023 UEFA U19 European Championship final, a moment that demonstrated his ability to perform on the biggest stage at youth level.
For Nigeria, the right-back position has been a consistent area of discussion under Chelle. The Super Eagles have options, but none who are playing at the consistent Premier League level that Kayode currently is. A committed Kayode would give Chelle a right-back of a calibre that the team hasn’t reliably had since the peak years of Ola Aina in top-flight European football. Those tracking Kayode’s situation and wanting to follow the Super Eagles’ full summer picture can find the latest promo details at Nigeria’s top Bet9ja promo page before the June fixtures.
Why the Decision Is Kayode’s to Make
The honest picture is that this remains Kayode’s decision and Nigeria cannot force it. What Chelle and the NFF can do is make the case clearly and make the player feel genuinely wanted, which the planned meeting is designed to do. The argument in Nigeria’s favour is straightforward: regular football, a squad he can make a significant impact in immediately, and a chance to play in a June friendly against Portugal, one of Europe’s best sides heading to the World Cup.
Italy may still come calling if Gattuso changes his mind or circumstances change. But the window is open now, the NFF is moving quickly, and Kayode’s heritage pulls him toward Nigeria in a way that Jacob Murphy’s didn’t. Whether Chelle can close the deal before the June squad announcement is the key question of the coming weeks for Nigerian football. Bet9ja’s welcome bonus is available for fans who want to be part of the action when Nigeria line up for their summer campaign.
📌 Did You Know?
- Michael Kayode scored the winning goal for Italy in the 2023 UEFA U19 European Championship final, a moment that made him one of the most celebrated young Italian footballers of his generation before his senior international future became unclear.
- Kayode came through the youth academy of Juventus, one of Europe’s most demanding development environments, before making the unconventional decision to drop to Serie D with Gozzano to get regular first-team minutes, a move that proved decisive in accelerating his development.
- Brentford, Kayode’s current club, were one of the Premier League’s most innovative tactical sides under Thomas Frank, known for their use of data analytics in recruitment and their ability to develop players from outside traditional elite academies into top-flight regulars.
- Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, who omitted Kayode from his 2026 World Cup squad, is himself a former combative midfielder who won the World Cup as a player in 2006 and has been known throughout his coaching career for making bold and sometimes controversial selection decisions.
- Under FIFA regulations, a player who has represented a nation at youth level in friendly matches but has never appeared for their senior team in a competitive fixture retains the right to switch international allegiance, a rule that has opened doors for Nigeria to recruit several diaspora players in recent years.
- Kayode’s long throw-ins at Brentford have become a notable tactical weapon in the Premier League, with the club using his ability to launch the ball deep into the penalty area from the touchline as a genuine attacking set-piece option in games where conventional delivery isn’t working.
- Jacob Murphy, the Newcastle United winger also of Nigerian descent, was contacted by Chelle earlier in the qualifying cycle but opted to wait for an England call-up, demonstrating the challenge Nigeria faces in competing with European nations for players with dual eligibility born and raised in Europe.
