| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Honest Ahanor | ||
| Date of birth | (2008-02-23) 23 February 2008 | ||
| Place of birth | Aversa, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Atalanta | ||
| Number | 69 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2024 | Genoa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2025 | Genoa | 6 | (0) |
| 2025– | Atalanta | 11 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:03, 10 January 2026 (UTC) | |||
Honest Ahanor (born 23 February 2008) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A club Atalanta.
Life and career
Ahanor was born on 23 February 2008 in Aversa, Italy. He has regarded Italy international Paolo Maldini as his football idol.[1]
Genoa
As a youth player, Ahanor joined the youth academy of Italian side Genoa. During the 2023/24 season, he played for the club's under-15, under-16, and under-17 teams.[2] He helped the team secure a 2–2 draw against Napoli on 11 May, 2025, scoring the first goal after a cross from Junior Messias which Ahanor headed on the post and got the ball to bounce on Napoli’s goalkeeper Alex Meret’s thigh and into the back of the net.
Atalanta
On 4 July 2025, Ahanor signed with Serie A club Atalanta for a reported fee of €16 million, plus €4 million in bonuses.[3] He signed a three-year contract with the club, the maximum length allowed as he is under 18 years old.[4] On 30 September, Ahanor made his Champions League debut, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 win against Club Brugge.[5]
International career
Ahanor is eligible to play solely for Nigeria. The son of Nigerian parents, Ahanor moved from Campania to Genoa at the age of one and developed entirely within the Italian football system. Despite being Italian by upbringing and cultural identity, he has never been eligible to represent Italy at youth level. Under current Italian law, children born in Italy to foreign parents cannot automatically acquire citizenship. They may apply only after turning 18, provided they have lived in the country continuously and legally. Ahanor’s case has reignited debate over Italy’s citizenship rules for second-generation immigrants.[6][7]
Style of play
A left-footed defender, Ahanor mainly plays as a left-back. He can also operate as a center-back, central midfielder, and winger. He is known for his, versatility, speed, and strength.[8]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 10 January 2026[9]
| Club | Season | League | Coppa Italia | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Genoa | 2024–25 | Serie A | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | |
| Atalanta | 2025–26 | Serie A | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4[a] | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| Career total | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 1 | ||
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
References
- ^ "Un nuovo italiano per la difesa della Nazionale: ha 15 anni e sogna di incantare Mancini". sprintesport.it. 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Honest Ahanor: il difensore che vuole bruciare tutte le tappe". lagiovaneitalianews.it.
- ^ Barera, Fabio (4 July 2025). "Chi è Honest Ahanor, il laterale classe 2008 che l'Atalanta ha pagato 16 milioni + 4 di bonus: carriera e curiosità del terzino italiano". Eurosport. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "Atalanta, ecco Ahanor dal Genoa. Il 17enne è stato pagato 16 mln più 4 di bonus". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "Atalanta 2-1 Club Brugge - Hosts come from behind to win Champions League game". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
- ^ "Gattuso punta gli occhi su Ahanor ma per ora manca la cittadinanza italiana". gazzetta.it. 29 September 2025.
- ^ "Honest Ahanor, il talento che Bergamo ha già adottato. Ma per l'Italia è ancora un "estraneo"". tuttoatalanta.com. 3 October 2025.
- ^ "Chi è Honest Ahanor, il nuovo arrivo della GR Sports". numero-diez.com.
- ^ "Honest Ahanor". Soccerway.
External links
- Honest Ahanor at Soccerway
