From legends like Denis Law and Graeme Souness to emerging talents such as Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson, Scots are carving out a significant presence in both Serie A and Serie B. This summer transfer window, three more Scots have made the move to Italy: Ché Adams opened his Serie A account over the weekend, Scott McTominay is in Naples ahead of his move to Napoli, and fellow Scot Billy Gilmour is also set to transfer from Brighton to Napoli. This article will explore both past and present Scots in Serie A.
Past Players
Denis Law, Joe Jordan and Graeme Souness (below)
Denis Law is one of Scotland’s footballing greats. His move from Manchester City to Torino in 1961 for £100,000, a record fee for a British player at the time, made him one of the first Scotsmen to ever play in Serie A. However, his stint in Italy did not go as planned. Despite scoring 10 league goals, after just one season, he forced a move back to England, joining Manchester United, where he went on to win a Ballon d’Or and league titles in the following seasons. His struggles in Serie A may have been due to the Catenaccio system, a highly defensive strategy focused on nullifying the opposition’s attack. This, combined with adapting to a new culture and language, meant that Denis Law, one of Scotland’s finest players, failed to truly make his mark on Italian football.
The next Scotsman to play in Italy was the legendary Joe Jordan, who played for two Italian clubs, AC Milan and Hellas Verona. Jordan joined AC Milan in 1981, becoming the first Scottish player to sign for the club. During his time at Milan, they were relegated to Serie B. However, Jordan quickly became a fan favorite, earning the nickname “Lo Squalo” (The Shark) for his aggressive playing style and toothless grin, a result of missing teeth. He scored crucial goals that helped Milan secure promotion back to Serie A. Jordan later said that his move to Milan was the best of his career, as it gave him a chapter he had always wanted—a chance to play abroad. After two seasons with Milan, Jordan moved to Hellas Verona in 1983, where he contributed to the team’s rise, laying the foundation for their historic 1985 Scudetto win. He eventually returned to the UK to play for Southampton and ended his career in England.
Another Scottish icon, known both for his playing days and his outspoken criticism of Paul Pogba on Sky Sports, is Graeme Souness. Souness joined Sampdoria for €650,000 in 1984. In his first season in Italy, he was instrumental in winning Sampdoria’s first and only Coppa Italia trophy. “I found the football easy. It was a bit slower, less pressing,” he remarked. However, Souness was soon offered a role he couldn’t refuse: the player-manager position at Rangers. He flew to London, and Sampdoria allowed him to leave in exchange for £250,000. His most memorable moment in Italy was undoubtedly his decisive goal against Milan in the semifinals of that Coppa Italia-winning campaign.
Current Players
Aaron Hickey
Over the last three years, several Scotsmen have made the move to Italy, with one of the most notable being Aaron Hickey. Currently at Brentford, Hickey first made a name for himself at Bologna. Bologna’s recruitment has been excellent in recent years, placing them at the forefront of this new wave of Scotsmen playing in Italy. They signed Hickey from Hearts, with Hickey choosing Bologna over German giants Bayern Munich. During his time in Italy he was nominated for the 2021 and 2022 Golden Boy award. His second season is where Hickey truly starred. Being utilised as an extremely offensive left-back he was a danger down both the left and right flank. Hickey scored five league goals in Serie A, equaling Graeme Souness’s, and in the summer of 2022, he moved to Brentford, where, unfortunately, his time has been marred by injuries. However, during his time in Italy, Hickey was considered one of the most promising full-backs in Europe and was a joy to watch.
Lewis Ferguson
Currently at Bologna, Ferguson made a similar career move to Aaron Hickey, joining the club from SPFL team Aberdeen. He transferred for just €2 million and has since been linked with teams such as AC Milan, Napoli, and several Premier League clubs for over €20 million. Since joining Bologna, Ferguson has been a key player, winning the Bulgarelli Number 8 award, which is given to the best midfielder in Serie A, as he captained Bologna to their first-ever Champions League place finish in the 2023/24 season. The midfielder is a typical box-to-box number 8, and he has already surpassed Denis Law as the all-time leading Scottish scorer in Serie A. His late runs into the box and overall athleticism have made him instrumental in helping coach Thiago Motta implement his style of play. Unfortunately, an ACL injury ruled him out of Euro 2024, where he was set to play in central midfield. The 24-year-old is still recovering but will aim to return to the excellent form he showed last season. Big things are expected from the Bologna captain.
Liam Henderson
Liam Henderson was the first Scot to play in Italy since Graeme Souness in the 1980s; however, he didn’t play in Serie A straight away. He first arrived in Italy in 2018, joining Bari in Serie B, where he quickly adapted to a new culture and league. After Bari faced financial difficulties, Henderson transferred to Serie B side Hellas Verona, helping them secure promotion to Serie A in 2019. His technical ability, work rate, and tactical intelligence made him an important asset in Verona’s midfield. After his time with Verona, he moved to Empoli, where he continued to perform in Serie A, helping the club in a memorable campaign that saw them finish well clear of the relegation zone. Henderson contributed on the pitch with goals against the likes of Napoli, along with his passing, vision, and ability to control games from deep. His Italian adventure has cemented his reputation as a reliable and adaptable midfielder, building a respectable career through hard work and dedication. Moving from Celtic to Serie B was a big risk, but it paid off, and Henderson has earned his place in every Italian team he has played for, thanks to his tenacity and commitment.
Josh Doig
Twenty-two-year-old Josh Doig is now playing his third season in Italy, having started his journey in the Bel Paese with Hellas Verona. Doig impressed in a left-back role, showcasing his offensive capabilities with 2 goals and 4 assists in his first season. He joined Verona from Scottish side Hibernian and has since made 46 appearances in Italy. In the 2024 January transfer window, he completed a €6 million move to Sassuolo, who were relegated to Serie B after having been in Serie A since 2013. Doig has played all three games so far for Sassuolo this season as they aim to return to top-flight Italian football. A highly rated left-back, Doig has been linked with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leicester throughout his short career. Doig will undoubtedly make a return to Serie A and has shown the potential to become one of the most promising full-backs in Italy.
Ché Adams
The most recent player to make a move to Italy (Until Scott McTominay is officially announced) is former Southampton striker Ché Adams who made his home debut for Torino last week. And what a debut it was the Scot walked off the pitch with a goal and an assist to turn a 1-0 loss to Atalanta to a massive 2-1 win against one of Italy’s best teams. His assist was superb, receiving the ball in the air he played it through to teammate Ilic who chipped it over the keeper. His first Serie A goal came in the 49th minute when he latched onto a save from a Duvan Zapata shot and slotted it into an empty net. This Ché Adams x Duvan Zapata strike force may be one to watch this upcoming season. Adams has been an established player in the upper two tiers of English football for a few years now, playing for Southampton in both the Premier League and Championship before he made the move this summer to Torino. Having already started the season superbly Scots and Italians alike will be hoping he can keep up for this form.
In major transfer news regarding Scots in Serie A, Scott McTominay is now in Naples ahead of his move to Napoli from Manchester United. McTominay, alongside the likes of Andy Robertson, is one of Scotland’s top and most capped players in recent times. Having come through Carrington and breaking into the United first team, the midfielder has been a consistent presence during a turbulent period for Manchester United. He is now set to join Napoli alongside fellow Scot Billy Gilmour. These transfers are significant for Scotland, as the Scottish-Italian connection strengthens with two starting midfielders from the Scottish national team leaving the Premier League to play in Italy.
It is clear that the number of Scots in Serie A is growing, with the imminent arrival of two of Scotland’s top players, Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, the number of Scots in Italy will be 6. The affinity between Scots and Italian football continues to strengthen. Clubs like Bologna, which actively scout the Scottish leagues, and players such as Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson, who have found significant success in Italy, are paving the way for young Scots. They are now realizing that a move to Italy offers a clear pathway to first-team football and opportunities in the Premier League or European competitions. I expect to see an increasing number of Scots making this move.
In response to a TikTok I posted about this growing trend of Scots in Serie A, many Scottish fans praised the league and expressed a desire to see more young players make the move, inspired by the success of players like Ferguson. One name that stood out in the conversation was Lennon Miller, who, at just 18, played over 40 games for Motherwell last season. Could he be the next promising young Scot to head to the Bel Paese? Time will tell. What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that a move to Italy is a proven pathway to success for Scottish players.
Leave a Reply