Atalanta announce signing of Kamaldeen Sulemana from Southampton

  

Ghana winger Kamaldeen Sulemana has officially completed his transfer from Southampton to Italian Serie A side Atalanta.

The 23-year-old joins the Bergamo-based side on a four-year deal, with an option for a fifth year. The deal is reportedly worth an initial €17.5 million, plus €4 million in add-ons, while Southampton placed a 15% sell-on clause for any future transfer.

Sulemana joined Southampton in February 2023 from French club Stade Rennais for a club-record fee of around £22 million. 

During his two and a half years with the Saints, he made 74 appearances, scoring four goals and providing seven assists. 

Despite flashes of his trademark pace and direct attacking style, Sulemana struggled to fully settle in the Premier League, with Southampton enduring a difficult 2024/25 season that ended with relegation after finishing bottom of the table.

The move to Atalanta reunites Sulemana with former Southampton manager Ivan Juric, who played a key role in securing the winger’s signature. 

Juric, known for his attacking philosophy, is expected to provide an environment well suited to Sulemana’s flair and speed on the flanks. At Southampton, the winger started 12/16 games under Juric and played in his longest run of games since leaving France.

The move to Serie A is viewed as the perfect platform for Sulemana to revive his career and potentially follow the footsteps of Ademola Lookman, who is the reigning CAF Player of the Year.

Fans will be eager to see how Sulemana adapts to Italian football and rediscovers the form that made him one of Africa’s most exciting young wingers.

Born in Techiman, Ghana, Sulemana began his European journey at Danish side FC Nordsjælland before moving to Rennes in France, where he made his European competition debut in the UEFA Conference League and Europa League. 

He earned his first senior cap for Ghana in 2020 and has gone on to make 20 appearances but will need a strong 2025/26 season to be considered for the World Cup if the Black Stars qualify.