Fiorentina sold an unprecedented number of youngsters this summer. Some of them have a path back to the club via buyback clauses but for accounting purposes, they’re off the books. Fortunately, the cupboard isn’t bare. I’m resurrecting an old feature here and will count down Fiorentina’s top U21 prospects who aren’t currently in the first team (i.e. Christ Inao Oulaï, Alieu Njie, Víctor Valdepeñas). I’ve players out on loan whose current clubs could trigger a permanent move because there’s no way
to know if they’ll return to Florence at season’s end.
I don’t have a rigid methodology here. I’m basing my rankings on what I’ve seen from these guys, often at youth level or in preseason, and those games don’t always translate to the senior game. It’s all extrapolation and it’s all fluid. Any of these guys could have a good couple games and raise their profile substantially. I’m ignoring anyone under 18 because it’s weird to talk about literal children as employees. As a reminder, growth isn’t linear et cetera and also these guys are very young and trying to beat massive odds. Be nice.
15. Davide Atzeni (Primavera)
The Firenze-born midfielder has all the tools: he’s got quick feet, a silky touch, and an eye for a pass. He’s also not afraid to stick a boot in despite his stature. He’s spoken about modeling his game after Barcelona’s Gavi, which tells you how he wants to play. That’s hard to do at a high level, obviously, and from what I’ve seen, Atzeni drifts in and out a bit more than that. He’s also missed all but 3 games this year as he’s dealt with injury.
2026-2027 goals: Be the heartbeat of the Primavera team.
Beyond that: He under contract until 2028 and has a very high ceiling. If he can add some muscle to his frame and some consistency to his game, expect to hear some hype building around him next summer. He’s not close to ready for Serie A yet but it’s within the range of outcomes that he gets there in a couple years.
14. Brando Mazzeo (Primavera)
The 19-year-old signed his first professional contract back in May and seems to be developing pretty well. Management trusts him enough to call him up for senior games: he’s been on the bench 7 times already. As a player, he’s a nippy winger who mostly plays on the left, cutting onto his stronger foot, but can play on the right as well. He’s shown the requisite quickness, dribbling, and curled finishes to take the next step. He’s behind Riccardo Croci in the hierarchy but is probably the second-most likely Primavera player to make his debut some time this season.
2026-2027 goals: Keep developing, build consistency, and take those first professional steps, either in Florence or on loan somewhere.
Beyond that: He’s on the right track but has a long way to go before he’s a Serie A-level contributor. I’m trying to figure out if he’s shone because he has Croci taking the pressure off him or if he’s got enough to go consistently go it alone at this level. We probably won’t know until that loan move.
13. Giulio Scuderi (Juve Stabia)
The 20-year-old played on the flank during his Primavera days and occasionally farther forward but has settled in as a leftback. He’s a 6/10 sort of player in every way, possessing solid physical and technical attributes without standing out in any category. He gets up and down the wing for 90 minutes and right now, that’s probably his best quality. He’s capable of swinging in a good cross but his end product is unreliable. As a right-footer, I’ve also liked how comfortable he’s been in central positions, providing a direct line to the winger on his side while reinforcing the midfield. He’d seized a starting role with Juve Stabia but has spent the past month sidelined with a muscle issue.
2026-2027 goals: Get healthy and prove that Serie B is the baseline.
Beyond that: I don’t think he’s got a clear path the Fiorentina squad unless without a massive season, especially given Fabio Paratici’s urge to ship out everyone associated with the previous regime. I think his ceiling is probably bottom-half Serie A team and he’ll likely spend his career in the second tier but I also think he’s got a pretty high floor as a player.
12. Tommaso Vannucchi (Arzignano)
The 19-year-old from Viareggio has spent most of his career in Tommaso Martinelli’s shadow but has another chance to seize the spotlight after last year’s disappointing effot (8 total appearances across loans to Serie C sides Pontedera and Cosenza). He’s back in the third tier and has earned the starting job for the Grifone. Although he’s had to pick the ball out of his own net 12 times in 12 games, he’s helped take the club to 4th and made enough good stops along the way to earn his first call up to the Italy U20s. I won’t pretend to be an expert on goalkeeper evaluation but from what I can tell, he’s got great size, decent reflexes, and a willingness to throw himself into the mixer.
2026-2027 goals: Prove that Serie C is at least a step below where he ought to be and start ironing out the typical teenage goalkeeper issues.
Beyond that: He’s got a tricky path to the first team as long as Martinelli’s around. Consensus is that his ceiling is lower than his fellow Tommaso’s but he looks like he’s got a very good chance of having a successful career at a good level, although again, I lack any expertise in judging goalkeepers on anything but a surface level.
11. Sulayman Jallow (Primavera)
The 19-year-old Gambian grew up in the Rimini academy before moving to Fiorentina in 2025. He tallied 8 goals and 4 assists in 32 appearances for Daniele Galloppa’s boys last term and has inherited more responsibility this time around. He’s risen to the occasion thus far, scoring 3 in 8, including one absolute stunner. All the physical talent is there and his technical ability seems to be catching up. Fabio Grosso called him to the bench for the first game of the season so he’s right on the cusp.
2026-2027 goals: Score more consistently.
Beyond that: He’s signed professional terms and is under club control until 2028. Assuming he gets healthy soon (missed 2 straight games) and maintains some level of goalscoring consistency, his Primavera performances won’t tell us much. Physical specimens like Gabriele Gori and Eljon Toci often sparkle at youth level but, lacking the same advantages against grown men, lose their shine very quickly. Jallow could buck that trend but only time will tell.
