With domestic action well and truly back underway across Europe, there have been a number of Italians taking England by storm, both in the Premier League and the Championship. Here is a look at how some of them have been getting on in the UK so far in 2023/24.
Some of the most high-profile signings made by Premier League in the summer transfer window came, in fact, from Serie A, a number of them Italian by birth.
Arguably the most notable of those came right at the beginning of the window, with Sandro Tonali leaving his beloved Milan to join Newcastle in a deal estimated to be worth a total figure of €70m.
Life on Tyneside could not have started any better for Tonali, netting Newcastle’s first goal of the season after just six minutes of their season opener against Aston Villa at St James’ Park. Photographs of Tonali celebrating his successful debut in a local Wetherspoons that evening soon went viral online.
Since then, life has not been quite as straightforward for the Magpies, recording three consecutive losses in a tough run of fixtures against Manchester City, Liverpool and most recently against Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton.
De Zerbi, meanwhile is making a name for himself, not just as ‘one to watch’ as he had been branded by some last season, but as one of the most respected and impressive coaches in the league.
Eyebrows were raised when Brighton brought De Zerbi to replace Graham Potter last September, but since then, the former Sassuolo coach has gone on to work wonders on the South Coast.
Thanks to their remarkable campaign in 2022-23, De Zerbi will lead Brighton out for their first ever venture in European football. In the Premier League, life hasn’t started too badly either, with three wins from a possible four, averaging 3.66 goals in matches they have won so far.
Venturing to North London, there are three Italians currently representing Tottenham and Arsenal. It is the two playing at Spurs, however, who have enjoyed the more successful start to the campaign.
Guglielmo Vicario joined from Empoli in a club-record sale of €20m this summer, and has since gone on to replace club captain and former World Cup winner Hugo Lloris between the sticks.
The 26-year-old has recorded two clean sheets from four matches, in consecutive 2-0 wins over Manchester United and Bournemouth at the end of August.
Also having made his Tottenham debut under Ange Postecoglou is Destiny Udogie, who joined from Udinese last summer, but was loaned back for the 2022-23 campaign.
Udogie has started all four of Spurs’ matches in the league so far, registering two assists. He has gained praise from the English press for his ability to step into central midfield positions and become an extra creative outlet in the middle of the park.
Moving across town, Jorginho is still at Arsenal, but is yet to start in the Premier League so far this season. He has, however, come on as a substitute in all three of the Gunner’s most recent fixtures.
Another who is yet to start this season is Nicolo Zaniolo, who arrived relatively late on in the transfer window from Galatasaray. The former Roma forward has appeared for 42 minutes across two matches against Burnley and Liverpool.
Curiously, there are also two Italians to keep an eye on up at Burnley. One is Luca Koleosho, who, despite being born in the United States, currently represents Italy’s Under-19s. The 18-year-old has started in all three of Burnley’s matches so far. He claimed his first Premier League assist in a 5-2 loss against Tottenham.
The Clarets also picked up 20-year-old goalkeeper Denis Franchi from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, although he is considered to be one for the future and is currently third choice under Vincent Kompany behind Arijanet Muric and James Trafford.
Meanwhile in the Championship, Wilfried Gnonto is back in the first team set-up with Leeds. The teenager had handed in a transfer request this summer, but was told he would not be sold and for a short while was forced to train away from the rest of the group.
He has since returned to the first team, but Leeds have been handed a reality check in the second division, picking up just one win from five, only enough for a 15th place ranking so far.
Leicester, coached by Enzo Maresca, also welcomed the highly-rated Cesare Casadei this summer, although his only start so far has come in the Carabao Cup.
It is likely that he will have to bide his time for first team opportunities, with established, Premier League-proven players in Wilfred Ndidi, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and former Sampdoria midfielder Harry Winks currently ahead of him in the pecking order.