Brits in Serie A: Kyle Walker to impress Thomas Tuchel at Milan? Dele to rebound? Scott McTominay's Napoli for Scudetto?

Serie A is becoming home to more and more British players, a contingent swelled further by Kyle Walker making a January loan move from Manchester City to AC Milan. Walker joins Dele Alli in swapping England for Italy, while Scott McTominay is helping drive Antonio Conte's Napoli towards a second Scudetto in three seasons. What is behind this trend? Stream this weekend's Milan derby on discovery+.

After Kyle Walker's loan move to AC Milan in the January transfer window, there are now 15 British players plying their trade in Serie A.

It's a considerable amount. Where once there was a dearth, it's now a diaspora.

Walker joins compatriots Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham in Milan, and it was instructive to hear how the England right-back came to his decision, with the help of one of his compatriots.

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"I reached out to Tammy," Walker said in his first club interview, as he prepares for a possible debut in this Sunday's Milan derby, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

"I asked him what the city was like, what it's actually like to play for AC Milan.

"You have the outside perception of looking in, of it being a massive club and the players that have played for it: Kaka, Ronaldinho, David Beckham, [Paolo] Maldini.

"These are players that I look up to. Just to be a part of that, he [Abraham] said that you have to come, you have to experience this city, and that's kind of what made my decision."

Compare those words with those of Loftus-Cheek following his move.

"It’s incredible, I look around and I’m still amazed by the size of the stadium, by its history," the ex-Chelsea midfielder said.

"I look at all this, I think I can play here every week and God knows for how long, so I’m really happy about it all."

Consider too Tomori's reflections on his decision to join the Rossoneri.

"When I first found out about it [joining Milan], I was kind of shocked really," Tomori said.

"The thing that kind of made me realise: 'Oh, it's Milan'; I spoke to Maldini. Then, I spoke to my dad, and my dad grew up watching Milan so he was like: 'Oh, George Weah, Maldini...' He was talking about all of these people.

"When I made the move here, then I went to the museum and that's when I realised how big the club actually is.

"It was probably the best decision I made, not only in football, but also in life as it opened up my view on football and life."

It's clear a theme emerges of players being not only seduced by the considerable charm and stature of one of the world's great clubs, but also the sense of players seeking out a new direction in their careers.

As these three players embark on their respective regenerations following tricky periods in the Premier League, can they now catch the eye of new England boss Thomas Tuchel?

After reports of the German looking at the Championship for potential inclusions in his first squad, surely a trio competing in Serie A - despite Milan's mixed domestic season - and at the sharp end of the UEFA Champions League are worth consideration?

McTominay driving Conte's Napoli towards Scudetto

For Maldini, see Maradona.

If Walker and Tomori referenced the Milan great as reasons for their moves, then Scott McTominay was equally enthused about following in the footsteps of arguably the world's greatest-ever player on his arrival at Napoli.

"Do you feel his [Maradona's] presence? Very much so," McTominay said.

"He is obviously the most iconic footballer to ever play the game.

"When I first walked into the stadium, it was a surreal feeling knowing he is an icon, an absolute legend of football. He is heavily in our hearts in Naples."

‘Brilliant finish’ – McTominay slots home first time to fire Napoli ahead against Atalanta

Video credit: TNT Sports

If inspiration is one factor for the British influx to Italy, then there are others at play too.

The first is familiarity, especially of Serie A managers having worked in the Premier League.

For Antonio Conte at Napoli, there is Patrick Vieira at Genoa, Cesc Fabregas at Como and Claudio Ranieri at Roma - with Jose Mourinho previously overseeing the Giallorossi before being sacked in January 2024.

And in McTominay's case especially, there is the requirement of Premier League clubs needing to comply with stringent Profit and Sustainability rules, with homegrown players able to be banked by clubs as pure profit.

Whatever the reasons that began the trend though, the more British players arrive in Serie A and the better they do, the more that will likely be tempted to follow suit.

McTominay finds corner with deft finish to give Napoli early lead over Inter

Video credit: TNT Sports

Especially as McTominay is behind a Napoli charge that could see them win the Scudetto for the second time in three seasons.

The exit of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia may hurt them, but after downing the hitherto unbeaten Juventus last weekend, sitting top of Serie A and with no European football to distract them, McTominay - and fellow Scot Billy Gilmour - could land a huge prize that would wholly validate their moves.

Dele to Como - hit or miss?

The managerial link is again strong in Dele Alli's case, as the English midfielder seeks to revive his career.

Como boss Cesc Fabregas has been instrumental in bringing Dele in, after the ex-Spurs man successfully came through a trial period.

The statement announcing Dele said that the 28-year-old would be provided with "a supportive environment where he can gradually integrate into the squad" and that there would be "no immediate performance expectations".

Fabregas added: "The club believes in Dele’s potential and is committed to helping him rediscover his best form.

"His experience and leadership qualities will undoubtedly benefit the squad."

The club are back in Serie A for the first time in 21 years, and sit 13th in the table.

The question now - after some well-documented issues - is can Fabregas unlock the Dele who bestrode the European and international stage in the early part of his career?

Ademola Lookman of Atalanta and Dele Alli of Como 1907 embrace following the warm up prior to the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Atalanta BC at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on January 25, 2025 in Como, Italy.

Image credit: Getty Images

Doing so in Italy would further make the case that the country is an environment where British players can thrive away from home.

Full list of Brits playing in Serie A

AC Milan

Kyle Walker

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Fikayo Tomori

Tammy Abraham

Napoli

Scott McTominay

Billy Gilmour

Como

Dele Alli

Udinese

Keinan Davis

Empoli

Liam Henderson

Tino Anjorin

Torino

Che Adams

Bologna

Samuel Iling-Junior (loan from Aston Villa)

Lewis Ferguson

Monza

Omari Forson

Genoa

Brooke Norton-Cuffy

Atalanta

Ben Godfrey (loaned to Ipswich)

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