Serie A Preview: McTominay leads six-man Scottish group in 2025-26 | OneFootball

An unprecedented six Scots will feature in the 2025-2026 edition of Serie A, and Stephen Kasiewicz explicates what to expect from them in the new campaign.

The success of a group of multiskilled Scottish internationals has led Italian clubs to widen their scouting networks to monitor more players from one of football’s founding nations.

While a record number of Scots will turn out for five different top-flight clubs, midfielder Liam Henderson, who has plied his trade in Italy since 2018, signed for Sampdoria in Serie B following Empoli’s relegation.

Football Italia examines the six-strong Scottish contingent that will play in Italy’s elite ranks this term.

Scott McTominay (Napoli)

In a phenomenal first season in Italy, the goalscoring midfielder won the Scudetto and was named the league’s most valuable player.

If that wasn’t enough, the 28-year-old is now a Ballon d’Or nominee after a sensational opening campaign under Antonio Conte at the Partenopei.

It’s been a remarkable ascent for a player who had spent his entire career at Manchester United before making a career-transforming switch to Italian football.

Now the man nicknamed ‘McFratm’ has the challenge of matching a memorable first term in Italy. His 12 league goals propelled Napoli to a fourth Serie A title, yet his colossal impact was not just in front of goal. Whether deployed in a central or wide position, his non-stop running and effortless ability to oscillate between defence and attack proved invaluable for Conte’s side.

Already a Neapolitan hero, the 61-time capped Scottish international will be remembered as one of Napoli’s greatest ever players if he can inspire the club to a historic second consecutive championship.

VENICE, ITALY – MARCH 29: Lewis Ferguson of Bologna and Issa Doumbia of Venezia in action during the Serie A match between Venezia and Bologna at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on March 29, 2025 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

Lewis Ferguson (Bologna)

The Rossoblu captain led the Emilia Romagna-based club to a first major trophy in 51 years last season.

A paragon of adaptability in the middle of the field, the 25-year-old played a significant role as Bologna upset Milan to claim the Coppa Italia at the Stadio Olimpico in May.

The ex-Aberdeen midfielder is likely to miss the Rossoblu’s opener at Roma on Saturday after sustaining a calf muscle injury in training.

The 16-time capped Scottish international is not expected to be out of action for a lengthy period as Vincenzo Italiano’s side target another top 10 finish.

He was out of action for six months between April and November 2024 due to a cruciate ligament injury, yet recovered to regain his place in the Bologna midfield last season.

Italiano deployed him in a slightly deeper role than predecessor Thiago Motta, but the Scot has already proved he is one of the best midfielders in Serie A, regardless of his specific position.

Che Adams (Torino)

The defining moment of an impressive opening campaign in Italy arrived when the former Southampton forward scored a superb long-range goal of the month award-winning strike.

The Scottish international attacker curled in a brilliantly measured shot from near the halfway line to claim the winner as Torino won at Empoli last December. A combination of instinct, technique, and audacity, it represented the absolute best of the 39-time capped Scotland international.

He netted nine times in the league as the Granata placed 11th and was unfortunate not to register a double-figure goal total.

For a player who worked his way up from the seventh tier to the English Premier League, the move to Italy may not have seemed a natural career advancement.

Yet the ex-Sheffield United and Birmingham City centre-forward adjusted to the rigorous tactical demands of the Italian top flight almost immediately.

Such was his impact that the 29-year-old was named as one of the five best forwards in Italy – alongside Mateo Retegui, Moise Kean, Marcus Thuram and Romelu Lukaku – in the 2024-2025 Serie A team of the season. Now he has the task of making sure he stays in such exalted company.

Billy Gilmour (Napoli)

The second Scot in Napoli’s title-winning squad did not always get the credit he deserved.

Partenopei coach Antonio Conte lavished praise on the midfield anchor as he stepped up in pivotal matches last term – most notably in a two-goal win at Milan last October and in the 1-1 stalemate with Inter at Stadio Diego Maradona in March.

It downplays the ex-Brighton and Hove Albion player’s contribution to the Scudetto victory to constantly suggest he is nothing more than Stanislav Lobotka’s understudy. This is patently untrue. Last term, he played in the absence of Lobotka and alongside him, making a total of 26 league appearances, as Conte altered his tactics and formation intermittently.

The 24-year-old is not just an invaluable squad member but a ready-made starter. A regular in an extremely competitive Scottish midfield, he has won 40 caps already and can expect to feature prominently again under Conte as Napoli defend their title this term.

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – MAY 19: Josh Doig of US Sassuolo in action during the Serie A TIM match between US Sassuolo and Cagliari at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on May 19, 2024 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Josh Doig (Sassuolo)

The Edinburgh-born defender enters his fifth season in Italy back in the top flight after Sassuolo convincingly won promotion as Serie B champions.

The former Hellas Verona and Hibs player has all the attributes of a seasoned campaigner, yet is still just 23 years old.

Comfortable anywhere on the left flank, Neroverdi coach Fabio Grosso – a World Cup-winning left-back himself – looks set to encourage the Scotland international to motor forward at speed.

Doig, who featured 31 times for Sassuolo last term, netted only his second goal in Italy with a perfectly executed volley to claim the winner against Catanzaro in the Coppa Italia last Friday. Whether given a more defensive role or the license to attack quickly, the flexibility of the Scottish international will be crucial as Grosso attempts to keep the eternal outsiders away from the drop zone.

Lennon Miller (Udinese)

The leading Scot of his generation attracted interest from clubs across Italy, England, and beyond before joining Udinese in a €5.5m deal earlier this month.

Already capped twice for his country, the teenage prodigy chose the Friulani ahead of others with the prospect of securing a regular first-team place a realistic objective.

A dead-ball specialist and precision passer who finds solutions to problems in restricted areas, the 18-year-old possesses every quality required to make the transition from the Scottish Premiership to Serie A.

After making his debut for Motherwell at the age of 16, the midfielder progressed rapidly over the last two years to eventually captain the Steelmen.

Bologna, Torino, and Fiorentina were among a host of clubs eager to sign the young Scot prior to his move to Udine.

Earning a starting spot in a Zebrette squad full of internationals will not faze a quietly determined player who has already achieved a significant amount in a short space of time.

@SKasiewicz