Transfers
MERCATO
OFFICIEL
Monza land Napoli midfielder Michael Folorunsho on loan until season's end
The 27-year-old Italian joins the Brianza side in a move that reunites him with a club where he previously spent two seasons on loan.
Monza have moved to bolster their midfield engine room, completing a deadline-day loan swoop for Michael Folorunsho from Napoli. The 27-year-old Italian—who spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Monza—returns to the U-Power Stadium as cover for a squad pushing for stability in the bottom half of Serie A.
At a glance
- Age: 27 | Position: Midfielder | Deal: Loan (2026-08-27)
- From: Napoli → To: Monza
- 2025 season: 32 apps, 2,458 mins, 2 goals, 0 assists, 6.53 rating
Career context
Folorunsho's route through Italian football reads like a textbook loan circuit. A product of Lazio's academy—he signed his first professional contract there in July 2017—he was immediately farmed out to Virtus Francavilla the same month. Over the next five years, the 190cm, 92kg midfielder cycled between Napoli and a string of lower-tier and struggling top-flight clubs: Reggina (twice), Pordenone, Bari, Verona, and Cagliari.
His most sustained run came at Cagliari in 2025, where he started 24 of 27 Serie A matches, logged 2,008 minutes, and posted an impressive 127 duels won from 281 attempted. That form—combined with his earlier successful spell at Monza—likely caught the attention of the Brianza club's recruitment team.
How he fits at his new club
Monza, under their current management, typically deploy a compact 4-3-3 that relies on physical, box-to-box midfielders who can shield a defence and transition quickly. Folorunsho's profile—78-rated duels attribute, 72-rated technique, and a season average of 342 duels contested—fits that brief precisely.
Apps
Goals
Assists
Minutes
Rating
His 66% pass accuracy and 62 dribbles attempted (25 successful) suggest he can operate as both a ball-progressor and a carrier, useful traits for a team that often defends deep and looks to hit on the counter. With 153 duels won across 32 appearances last season, he brings a combative edge that Monza's midfield—which averaged just 28.1 tackles per game in 2025—could use.
Recent numbers
The 2025 season offered a telling snapshot of Folorunsho's evolution. Across 32 competitive appearances (29 starts), he accumulated 2,458 minutes—an average of 77 minutes per game. His output:
- Goals: 2 (both for Cagliari)
- Assists: 0
- Rating: 6.53 (overall), 6.56 at Cagliari, 6.60 in Coppa Italia
- Duels: 342 attempted, 153 won (45%)
- Passes: 611 total, 18 key
- Tackles: 31
- Fouls drawn: 61
His technique attribute of 72 is the standout—higher than his attack (21), creation (24), and defence (31) ratings combined, indicating a player comfortable on the ball in tight spaces.
Key takeaways
| Metric | 2025 Season | Per 90 mins |
|---|---|---|
| Apps | 32 | — |
| Minutes | 2,458 | 77 |
| Duels won | 153 | 5.6 |
| Pass accuracy | 66% | — |
| Rating | 6.53 | — |
- Return to familiarity: This is Folorunsho's second stint at Monza, having previously spent the 2023-24 season on loan there. The club clearly knows his profile well.
- Durability: Despite a history of injuries—including a knee issue that kept him out until July 2025—he played 2,458 minutes last season, suggesting full fitness.
- No fee attached: The deal is a straight loan with no transfer fee, allowing Monza to add experience without long-term financial commitment.
- Midfield depth: With Napoli's squad rotation likely to limit his opportunities, this move gives Folorunsho a chance to rediscover regular game time at a club where he's already proven he can deliver.