| Michael Folorunsho | |
| Full Name: | Michael Ijemuan Folorunsho |
| Birth Date: | 7 February 1998 |
| Birth Place: | Rome, Italy |
| Height: | 1.90 m[1] |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Napoli |
| Clubnumber: | 90 |
| Youthclubs1: | Tor Sapienza |
| Youthyears2: | –2014 |
| Youthclubs2: | Savio |
| Youthyears3: | 2014–2017 |
| Youthclubs3: | Lazio |
| Years1: | 2017–2019 |
| Caps1: | 61 |
| Goals1: | 8 |
| Years2: | 2019– |
| Clubs2: | Napoli |
| Caps2: | 0 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2019–2020 |
| Clubs3: | → Bari (loan) |
| Caps3: | 12 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2020–2021 |
| Clubs4: | → Reggina (loan) |
| Caps4: | 30 |
| Goals4: | 6 |
| Years5: | 2021–2022 |
| Clubs5: | → Pordenone (loan) |
| Caps5: | 16 |
| Goals5: | 2 |
| Years6: | 2022 |
| Clubs6: | → Reggina (loan) |
| Caps6: | 15 |
| Goals6: | 2 |
| Years7: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs7: | → Bari (loan) |
| Caps7: | 27 |
| Goals7: | 8 |
| Years8: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs8: | → Hellas Verona (loan) |
| Caps8: | 34 |
| Goals8: | 5 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2024– |
| Nationalcaps1: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 20 May 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 15 June 2024 |
Michael Ijemuan Folorunsho (born 7 February 1998) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Napoli and the Italy national team.
Folorunsho spent his youth years with Lazio and played for their Under-19 squad. On 18 July 2017, he signed with Serie C club Virtus Francavilla.[2] Folorunsho made his professional Serie C debut for Virtus Francavilla on 26 August 2017, in a game against Lecce.[3] He played 60 Serie C games for Virtus Francavilla in the two seasons.
On 13 July 2019, Folorunsho signed for Serie A club Napoli on a permanent deal.[4] He was sent on loan two days later to Serie C club Bari for two years.[5] Napoli sent Folorunsho on loan to several clubs in the Serie B: Reggina in 2020–21,[6] Pordenone[7] and Reggina[8] in 2021–22, and Bari in 2022–23.[9]
On 16 August 2023, Folorunsho agreed to join Serie A club Hellas Verona on loan for the duration of the 2023–24 season.[10]
In March 2024, Folorunsho received his first call-up to play for Italian senior squad from head coach Luciano Spalletti.[11] [12] However, he remained on the bench during friendly games with Venezuela and Ecuador played in the United States. Later that year, on 6 June, Folorunsho was included in the Italian squad for the UEFA Euro 2024.[13] On 9 June, he debuted in a friendly match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Stadio Carlo Castellani, coming as a substitute to goalscorer Davide Frattesi in the 76th minute as Italy won 1–0.[14]
Folorunsho is of Nigerian descent.[15]
| Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Lazio | 2016–17 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Virtus Francavilla | 2017–18 | Serie C | 28 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 1 | |
| 2018–19 | Serie C | 31 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 35 | 7 | ||
| Total | 59 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 66 | 8 | |||
| Napoli | 2019–20 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Bari (loan) | 2019–20 | Serie C | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| Reggina (loan) | 2020–21 | Serie B | 30 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | 32 | 6 | ||
| Pordenone (loan) | 2021–22 | Serie B | 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 17 | 3 | ||
| Reggina (loan) | 2021–22 | Serie B | 15 | 2 | — | — | 15 | 2 | |||
| Bari (loan) | 2022–23 | Serie B | 27 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 9 | |
| Hellas Verona (loan) | 2023–24 | Serie A | 34 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 34 | 5 | ||
| Career total | 193 | 31 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 211 | 33 | |||
Individual
February 2024[17]