Real Madrid have emerged as the latest European heavyweights monitoring Nigeria’s highly rated teenage defender Honest Ahanor, intensifying an already crowded transfer race led by Chelsea and Manchester City, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 17-year-old Atalanta starlet has quickly become one of the most closely watched young defenders in Europe after an outstanding breakthrough season in Bergamo. His brilliant performances in Italy and Europe have prompted sustained interest from several Premier League clubs and some of the continent’s biggest names, according to a report by TeamTalk.
Chelsea are understood to be leading the chase, having tracked Ahanor since his formative years at Genoa, but Madrid’s growing interest is expected to reshape the strategic thinking around the youngster’s future.
Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle are also actively monitoring his progress, while Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig have sent scouts to Italy this season. Brighton and Nottingham Forest were the two Premier League clubs earlier linked with a move for Ahanor.
Ahanor only joined Atalanta in the summer in a deal worth around €20m, yet his rapid adaptation to senior football has made a prolonged stay far from guaranteed.
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Nigeria’s Ahanor: Europe’s elite circle as Atalanta weigh a major decision
Left-sided and tactically versatile, Ahanor is comfortable operating at centre-back, full-back and in midfield. He has already made half a dozen starts for Atalanta, displaying a maturity well beyond his years and earning praise from opposition analysts and recruitment staff alike.
Chelsea and Manchester City have reportedly been ‘virtually ever-present’ at Atalanta matches in recent weeks, reflecting the seriousness of their interest.
Atalanta remain in a strong negotiating position. Ahanor is contracted until 2028, and the Serie A side could look to more than triple their initial investment should bids approach the €60m mark, a figure that would test even the most disciplined recruitment departments.
Ahanor, Nigeria’s most valuable teenager, is believed to be settled and happy in Bergamo.
However, the Super Eagles-eligible defender will be eligible to move to England at the end of the season when he turns 18 in February, opening the door for Premier League clubs to act decisively.
Chelsea and Manchester City both boast strong records of investing early in elite-level prospects, while Real Madrid’s interest signals that Ahanor is now viewed as a potential long-term cornerstone rather than merely a developmental gamble.
Ahanor: Why City and Madrid see a tactical fit
Manchester City’s interest is thought to be linked to long-term defensive planning. With uncertainty surrounding the futures of John Stones and Nathan Aké, and the club already assessing options for the coming seasons, Ahanor’s ability to operate across multiple roles aligns closely with Pep Guardiola’s tactical demands.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, have increasingly targeted young, adaptable defenders capable of developing within their system, a strategy that has reshaped their squad in recent years.
For now, Atalanta hold the cards. But with Europe’s biggest clubs circling and scouts flocking to Bergamo, Honest Ahanor’s rise looks set to become one of the defining transfer stories to watch over the coming months.