Honest Ahanor, the highly-rated 17 year old defender who's already made 15 Serie A appearances for Atalanta this season, is said to be attracting interest from Premier League clubs Manchester United, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest.A left-footed defender, Ahanor mainly operates as a left-back but is versatile enough to play as a centre-back, central midfielder, or winger. He is known for his pace, physical strength, and ability to adapt to different roles on the pitch.
Honest Ahanor: the Man Utd transfer target's career so far
Ahanor, born on 23 February 2008 in Aversa, Italy, is one of the brightest young defensive talents emerging in Serie A and has long admired Italy legend Paolo Maldini as his footballing idol. He came through the youth ranks at Genoa, playing across the under-15, under-16 and under-17 levels during the 2023/24 season, which underlined both his rapid development and versatility.
His growing reputation was boosted in May 2025 when he scored in a 2–2 draw against Napoli, getting on the end of a cross from Junior Messias in a memorable moment against top-level opposition.
In July 2025, Atalanta secured his signature in a deal reported to be worth €16 million plus up to €4 million in bonuses, with Ahanor signing a three-year contract, the maximum allowed due to his age. He went on to make his Champions League debut in September, playing the full match in a 2–1 win over Club Brugge. Since joining Atalanta, he has continued to progress impressively and is widely viewed as one of the most exciting young defenders currently in Serie A.
Latest transfer report on Newcastle-linked Honest Ahanor
A report from sports journalist Nico Schira states that several Premier League clubs, including Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, have recently sent scouts to monitor Atalanta’s highly rated young defender Honest Ahanor. Born in 2008, he is set to turn 18 on Monday, and Schira also mentions that this could open the door to a potential call-up to the Italy national team as interest in his rapid rise continues to grow.
Our opinion
Honest Ahanor looks destined to become a top player in the future, and the fact he's still just 18 means there's still a long way to go for the Atalanta defender to grow and improve. In addition to the club's mentioned in this article, he has been previously linked with the likes of Arsenal, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern Munich as well. This shows us that he is indeed a special talent. Let us wait and see where his next chapter takes him.
