Honest Ahanor, who made his Serie A debut as a 16-year-old last season, has been identified as a future-proof replacement for Theo Hernandez at AC Milan.
Who is Honest Ahanor?
Honest Ahanor may have had a season plagued by a meniscus injury, but his breakthrough as a budding young 16-year-old certainly caught the eye in Italy.
Italian-born Ahanor was the youngest player of Nigerian descent to feature in Europe’s top five leagues during the 2024-2025 season, although he is yet to declare for either nation as of yet.
Citing Paolo Maldini as his soccer hero, Ahanor’s iron-clad defensive abilities, combined with dynamism as an attacking left-back, means he is cut from the mould of Italy’s iconic full-backs.
Although he featured for 270 minutes of top-flight action in a trouble breakout season, his debut against Juventus on September 28, aged just 16 years and 218 days, pricked the ears of the Old Lady, who had previously monitored him just weeks before getting a close-up look.
The crowning moment of his debut season saw him grab an assist against eventual Serie A champions Napoli.
Honest Ahanor! What a moment for the 17 year old! 🤩#NapoliGenoa 1-1 pic.twitter.com/4xN0zRTP9d
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) May 11, 2025
AC Milan Keen Admirers of Honest Ahanor to Replace Theo Hernandez
With Theo Hernandez agreeing to join Al-Hilal this week, the Frenchman leaves behind a gaping hole.
Recent AC Milan transfer news has seen new sporting director Igli Tare reveal the club’s intentions for the rest of the window, with as many as five players expected to arrive.
That may well include Genoa’s teenage sensation Honest Ahanor, who, according to Sky’s Gianluca Di Marzio, is now the subject of interest from AC Milan.
The new sporting hierarchy are keen to add a potent blend of vastly experienced veterans, namely Luka Modric, as well as a dose of youthful exuberance to ensure the club keeps moving forward.
Ahanor fits the billing, with the 17-year-old able to slot in at left-back to replace Hernandez, while also proving coverage at centre-back, and even as an attacking winger.
He is valued at $5 million and has a contract at Genoa that stretches through to the summer of 2027, so it is likely Milan will have to pay upwards of $10 million to pry him away.
As per cash out betting sites, AC Milan are still some way behind rivals Inter, Juventus and Napoli in next season’s Scudetto estimations, but a strong transfer window could help them flip those fortunes.
Honest Ahanor Stats 2024-25
| Tournament | Appearances | Minutess | Tackles | Interceptions | Fouls | Clearances | Dribbles |
| Serie A | 3(3) | 270 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.5 |
