Underrated Serie A Signings That Could Make a Splash | OneFootball

Ahead of the 2026-27 Serie A season kickoff, we highlight a handful of unsung newcomers who could make immediate impacts with their clubs. 

Every Serie A season provides an ounce of oddity which can’t be matched by other leagues. From match day one, the chaos rumbles underneath, and it’s only a matter of time until it fully takes over.

Increasingly though, Serie A is giving into the identity of being a league that develops players and sells them on. There are complex financial reasons behind it but in a way, it keeps the league thriving and the approach allows clubs the funds to operate soundly.

That is why signing lesser known talents has become a norm in the Italian top flight. As the new season nears, we take a look at undervalued signings that can make a difference in the upcoming campaign.

Mikel Amondarain, Bologna

Bologna missed out on European qualification last season, but this hasn’t stopped them from doing some good business this summer. Sporting director Giovanni Sartori is an expert at picking out gems for both the Rossoblu and Atalanta before it.

The next in line could be Mikel Amondarain, who has joined Bologna from Estudiantes for €10 million.

His signing comes at a point when new manager Domenico Tedesco has lost a number of players including Remo Freuler, Giovanni Fabbian, and Michel Aebischer, in addition to Benjamin Dominguez being loaned to Sassuolo after his development didn’t go as planned. This has left Bologna light in midfield and also lacking leadership.

Amondarain will plug that hole, having grown in stature for Estudiantes in the last two years. He will add steely grit to the midfield and at 21, he will only improve.

Mattia Liberali, Como

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Nineteen-year-old Mattia Liberali came through Milan’s youth setup and even made a first-team appearance for the Rossoneri in 2024. But in the summer of 2025, he was sold to Serie B side Catanzaro, where he became a standout player, helping them battle for promotion to Serie A, contributing to seven goals in 24 games. He also scored once in the playoffs, playing every game while operating in attacking midfield.

This led to a bidding war involving Como and his ex-club Milan. But his preference lay with Cesc Fabregas’ side, who have a great track record of developing attacking talents, including Assane Diao, Martin Baturina, and Nico Paz.

Liberali has also impressed for Como during the pre-season and it could well be a sign of things to come. The teenager brings silky flair and creativity to the table and has drawn comparisons to Phil Foden. Fabregas’ system relies on constant movement across the pitch from almost every outfield player and this should suit Liberali quite a bit.

Franz-Ethan Meichtry, Genoa

Daniele De Rossi’s Genoa needed multiple signings, and while they roped in Djibril Sow from Sevilla, the arrival of Franz-Ethan Meichtry has gone under the radar.

The 20-year-old arrives from FC Thun for €4 million, after having enjoyed a stellar season in the club’s first-ever Swiss title win. He featured 35 times, scoring eight goals and racking up three assists. While mainly playing on the right flank, he also played in midfield on occasion, and can fill in on the left when needed.

Meichtry arrives to Genoa at a point when his career is on the rise and Italy’s oldest club needed attacking impetus. He provides something fresh to the attack, as compared to someone like Tommaso Baldanzi, Junior Messias, and new signing Hamed Traore. While he may only be a squad player in his first season, that can soon change in the next few months.

Meichtry’s versatility and hardworking nature will come in very handy for De Rossi, allowing him to play a variety of shapes.

Unai Gomez, Udinese

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Arthur Atta was expected to leave Udinese this summer and make a big jump to another club. So when he joined Fiorentina, the Friulians were prepared. They moved quickly for Unai Gomez, who joined from Athletic Bilbao for €4.5 million.

The Spaniard played over 100 times for the Basque club but found his career stagnating a bit, as he featured for less than 1,000 minutes in La Liga last season. He needed the change, and Udinese are getting an established player to replace a key role at a time when their trajectory under Kosta Runjaic is going up. They have often pushed for Europe under the German manager and even if they haven’t made it, signings like Gomez would give them a real lift.

The 23-year-old is someone who has played in the Champions League and the Europa League and would raise the standards of the club.

Kieron Bowie, Sassuolo

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While Sassuolo lost Fabio Grosso in the summer, they always have a reputation for signing players that will reach new heights in the near future. Kieron Bowie is a classic example of that, as the Scotsman did well for Hellas Verona in the second half of last season and has now returned to Serie A.

Andrea Pinamonti is very likely to part ways with the Neroverdi, and this leaves the ex-Hibernian man as a regular upfront. This will be very important for Bowie, who is only 23 and needs to play frequently to reach the next level.

New manager Alberto Aquilani impressed with Catanzaro in Serie B last season and his high-pressing ideas could help Bowie in increasing his output.

David Romero, Parma

Parma have historically had a very reliable track record for South American players, with Mateo Pellegrino being a prime example. However, the lanky forward joined Fiorentina in the offseason, forcing the Crociati into looking into the market for his replacement, which has come in the form of David Romero, joining from Argentine side Tigre for €7 million.

Romero comes to Italy after scoring three times at the Copa Sudamericana, finding the net 11 times in 19 games across all competitions in 2026. The Argentine will be the first choice at Parma and offers more up front than the man he is replacing.

Romero is more bullish on the ball, likes to carry it forward and is much more nippy than Pellegrino. One good season in Serie A will be enough to draw comparisons to Lautaro Martinez and Parma will not mind making another major sale in the near future.

Victor Valdepeñas, Fiorentina

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La Viola have been the most active club in the transfer market this summer, as Fabio Paratici looks to completely reform the Florence club after battles with relegation last season. Signings like Christ Oulai, Atta, Pellegrino, and Franco Mastantuono will get the limelight but another deal with Real Madrid isn’t getting enough attention. Victor Valdepeñas, unlike his Los Blancos teammate, joins on a permanent deal and there is clear direction to where he will play too.

He directly replaces the departed Robin Gosens and should be an important part of the squad under Fabio Grosso.

The left back made one start for Real Madrid last season and was a regular for their Castilla side, which was enough to convince Fiorentina to shell out over €5 million for his signing. It is low-key and won’t put too much pressure on the youngster to deliver. He will develop quietly but surely under Grosso, who has a knack for blossoming players like Valdepeñas’ ilk and this was quite evident at Sassuolo.

There are other signings that can go wrong at Fiorentina but the 19-year-old is definitely someone who is very likely to thrive.