Ahanor has enjoyed a decent run of form at the Italian club as he has put in a string of solid displays for them on the defensive end of the pitch. The 17-year-old has scored one goal in 13 matches for Atalanta this season in various competitions.
The Nigerian talent is currently among the best young defenders in Serie A. Thus, it is no surprise that Real Madrid are hoping to get him on board.
His current contract at Atalanta will run out in the summer of 2028, which could make it tough for the Madrid outfit to sign him on a cut-price deal next year.
NAPLES, ITALY – NOVEMBER 22: Honest Ahanor of Atalanta BC during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Atalanta BC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on November 22, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Ahanor is a good tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure possession back for his team inside his half. He usually clears his lines when the opposition are on the front foot and can use his strong 1.84m frame to win his fair share of aerial duels for his team.
The Nigerian whizkid is primarily a central defender but can also fill in as a left-back or as a left-sided wide player if asked to do so by his manager. However, the jury is still out on whether Ahanor can make a smooth transition to life in The League. Plus, he is still quite raw and would need time to prove his worth at the highest level.
Ahanor is already good enough to challenge for a regular first-team spot at Real Madrid. We can expect him to enhance the quality of Xabi Alonso’s defence in the long run.
At 17, the future looks quite promising for Ahanor as long as he continues to improve with each year. He is undoubtedly a prospect to watch out for in the future, so Alonso should focus on stepping up his efforts to land him this January or at the end of this season. However, Los Blancos need to be patient with his development before they can get the best out of the gifted defender.
