English Premier League clubs have traditionally viewed Italy’s Serie A as a marketplace where they can acquire talented new players.
Some of the most successful Premier League transfers ever completed have involved players who left Italian top-flight clubs to move to England.
They include former France international star Thierry Henry, who took the league by storm after joining Arsenal from Juventus in August 1999.
However, it would be fair to say that Premier League clubs have not had quite as much success when shopping in Serie A in recent years.
Rasmus Hojlund’s ill-fated move from Atalanta to Manchester United stands out as a perfect example of the risks now associated with buying players from Serie A.
Despite this, there have been some notable success stories over the past few years. Read on as we assess some of the top transfers from Serie A to the Premier League since 2022.
Sandro Tonali – Newcastle United
Tonali’s time at Newcastle was not without problems, with a lengthy ban for betting offences resulting in him missing ten months of action.
However, he subsequently helped the Magpies end their 70-year trophy drought when they defeated Liverpool in the 2024/25 League Cup final.
The Italian international has been sold to Tottenham Hotspur for a sizeable profit this summer, which justifies Newcastle’s original investment in him.
Dean Huijsen – Bournemouth
Huijsen was signed from Juventus by Bournemouth for £12.6 million in July 2024, and spent just one season with the club before being sold to Real Madrid for £50m.
He was one of six nominees for the PFA Young Player of the Year award for his performances, highlighting the impact he made.
Huijsen helped the Cherries finish ninth in the Premier League and was part of a defence which conceded just 46 goals during the campaign.
Nikola Milenkovic – Nottingham Forest
Milenkovic signed for Forest on a five-year contract for £12m and has subsequently established himself as one of the most consistent defenders in the Premier League.
He helped Forest qualify for Europe in his first season with the club and followed up with a series of strong performances as they reached the 2025/26 Europa League semi-final.
The Serbian international has made 93 appearances for Forest over two seasons and will be the cornerstone of their defence under new manager Oliver Glasner.
Riccardo Calafiori – Arsenal
Calafiori joined Arsenal from Bologna for £33.6m in July 2024 and has proved to be a shrewd acquisition despite his injury problems.
He helped the Gunners end their 22-year wait to win the Premier League title last season, joining Mario Balotelli and Federico Chiesa as the only Italians to achieve the feat.
Calafiori has been linked with a move to Madrid this summer, but the Gunners are likely to demand a sizeable fee before they would sanction a transfer.
Michael Kayode – Brentford
Brentford defender Michael Kayode recently signed a new long-term contract until 2032, which was reward for his fine performances for the club.
Kayode initially joined the Bees on loan from Fiorentina before making the move permanent last summer. He helped Brentford finish ninth last season.
Brentford are renowned for developing unpolished diamonds before selling them for a profit and Kayode could be the club’s next big-money sale.
Mikkel Damsgaard – Brentford
Damsgaard is another excellent example of Brentford’s uncanny ability to identify bargains in the transfer market.
After making a massive impact at the 2020 European Championship, injuries and fitness issues prevented the Danish international from shining with Sampdoria.
However, he has rediscovered his best form since joining Brentford, and is now one of the most consistent players in the Premier League.
Ola Aina – Nottingham Forest
Aina joined Forest on a free transfer in July 2023 following his release by Torino. He has been excellent for the club over the past few seasons.
The Nigerian international resisted overtures from elsewhere to extend his contract until 2028 and he Is now part of the furniture at the City Ground.
Forest’s defence did not look as solid when he missed games through injury and his return to the team triggered an upturn in their performances.
Enzo Le Fee – Sunderland
Le Fee joined Sunderland on loan from Roma in January 2025 and helped them win promotion to the Premier League just a few months later.
Sunderland made the move permanent last summer and Le Fee demonstrated the wisdom of that decision by helping them qualify for Europe.
He bagged five goals and six assists in the Premier League last season to cement his status as one of the best purchases from Serie A over the past few years.
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