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Strikers come under more scrutiny compared to players in other positions. You go a few games without scoring, and it starts to feel like the pressure to end the drought and start a good run of form can’t let you be.

This has been the case for most of Moise Kean’s career, who finished as Fiorentina’s leading goal scorer for the 2024/2025 season. With a podium finish in the race for the Serie A Golden Boot, his season in Florence was a huge success.

However, before this excellence was a series of high and low moments, which shaped the Italian youngster into one of Europe’s top strikers.

Early Life and Family Roots

Moise Kean’s story begins in Vercelli, a quiet town in the Piedmont region of Italy, where he was born on February 28, 2000, to Ivorian parents. 

From the onset, he experienced growth under the influence of two different cultures. His West African heritage and the passionate love for football in Northern Italy played a key role in shaping his early years.

Moise Kean holding the Scudetto with his mom and brother Giovanni

His childhood in Italy was not without trials and challenging moments. After the separation of his parents, Kean found himself in a single-parent household. His mother, Isabelle, moved to Asti, taking the primary responsibility of caring for him and his brothers.

Life in Asti provided both challenges and opportunities. He was not from a wealthy family, and the city was not as prominent in football as the likes of Turin and Milan.

Nevertheless, Kean was able to grow and imbibe core values that would shape him.

Another key figure in his life was his older brother, Giovanni, who was also a footballer and served as a role model to him while growing up.

Giovanni’s early interest in football encouraged Kean to play, watching on as his brother played and learning the game.

By the time Kean began playing, his raw skill and talent were undeniable. He performed better than other young players and began catching the eyes of scouts.

It might not have been pleasant, but those early challenges laid the foundation for a promising career and forged the mentality that would help him navigate the pressures of professional football.

Rising Through the Ranks

When you follow football closely, you learn to spot the rare players who have “it” before the rest of the world catches on. To be fair, all it takes is a few seasons of Football Manager like Will Still. Moise Kean was one of those players.

By the time Kean started gaining traction in Asti, he was already a top talent. This was his first experience with organized football, and he made every moment count.

He showcased a natural striker’s instinct — pacey, direct, and lethal in front of goal. It does not get better than this for a very young striker aiming to reach the top level.

Scouts from local clubs began keeping tabs on his progress and development. Torino was the first major club to bring him into their youth setup.

Young Moise Kean playing for Torino

This was a significant move as it offered a more structured environment to grow as a footballer.

The Granata viewed him as a promising star, and the coaches at the club focused on fine-tuning the fundamentals in his game. His performances at Torino’s youth setup were impressive, and this increased the awareness of his potential.

At this point, Juventus opted to swoop in and recruit him as one of the young talents within their organization. At the age of 10, Kean switched allegiances to one of Italy’s biggest teams.

Juve’s youth structure offered elite coaching, state-of-the-art facilities, and a direct path to the highest levels of Italian football.

Moise Kean playing for Juventus U19

This move proved crucial as his development grew exponentially. By the time he reached the U19 level, Kean had become a prolific goalscorer. The 2015/16 season was his breakout in the Primavera (U19) side, where he scored an impressive 24 goals in just 25 games.

He played like he deserved to be among the best, and the professional scene was the next chapter for the youngster.

Emergence at Juventus

If you followed Italian football closely in late 2016, you’ll remember the buzz that surrounded Moise Kean’s first-team breakthrough.

At 16 years, 8 months, and 23 days, Kean played his first minutes for Juventus against Pescara, and became the youngest player ever to debut for the club in Serie A.

Moise kean celebrating a goal for Juventus

It felt like a dream come true for the young boy, and it felt special to be trusted by one of Europe’s top managers, Massimiliano Allegri, to play at such a level.

Kean did not just engrave his name in history at the domestic level; he went further to the continental scene.

A few days later, Allegri handed him minutes in a Champions League match against Sevilla. That appearance made Kean the first player born in the 2000s to play in both Serie A and the Champions League.

The following season saw him continue to achieve unprecedented heights. 

On the final day of the 2016/17 Serie A campaign, Kean scored his first goal for Juventus in a 2-1 win over Bologna. At 17 years and 88 days, he became the first player born in the 2000s to score in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Take a moment to really process these feats.

You do not achieve these feats by being a “bus rider” on the team or the academy player who just needed to be handed some minutes to get the feel of the professional scene — you achieve this by being a very special talent.

Moise Kean playing for Juventus

This leads me to draw parallels between Moise Kean and Mario Balotelli at a similar age. 

Both were Italian forwards of African heritage, blessed with natural strength and a fearless approach to the game.

And it made sense that Mario Balotelli was his idol. He must have come up through the ranks watching Super Mario demolish Manchester United, win City’s first EPL trophy, and score that wonder goal against Germany at the Euros. 

Moise Kean had the blueprint to follow. These few appearances at the professional level signaled the arrival of a promising star and the eagerness to continue playing at such a level—the second Balotelli.

Loan to Hellas Verona

When Moise Kean joined Hellas Verona on loan for the 2017/18 season, it felt like a bold but necessary step in his development.

At Juventus, breaking into such a star-studded team as a teenager proved a mammoth task. Ideally, a loan move to a less ambitious team in the top flights is the perfect opportunity.

Verona ultimately provided what every young player craves the most: consistent playing time.

Although the team was not as possession-based as Juventus, they offered valuable experience as they battled it out with other Italian teams in the Serie A.

Moise Kean at Hellas Verona

Kean seized the opportunity and showed commendable discipline during his time at the Bentegodi. 

There were spells during games where he felt disconnected from the entire play due to the setup of the team or flow of the game, but this was all part of the learning process.

He didn’t walk into a team that could feed him endless opportunities; instead, he had to learn how to make the most of limited service.

One of his standout performances came against Fiorentina, where he used his acceleration and strength to trouble defenders all game, capping it off with a goal that showcased his composure under pressure.

Throughout the season, Kean scored 4 Serie A goals in 20 appearances. While his numbers may seem modest or underwhelming, context matters.

He was still only 17 for much of the campaign, and he played in a side that often found itself on the back foot. Many of his appearances came as a substitute with a few minutes per game played.

Irrespective of Verona’s eventual relegation, the loan was moderately successful for Moise Kean. He had garnered valuable minutes under his belt, gotten a better understanding of the game at the top level, and scored goals.

Return to the Old Lady

When Moise Kean returned to Juventus for the 2018/19 season, you could sense that this was not the same teenager who had left for Hellas Verona a year earlier.

Despite his refined play, he had to bide his time at the Bianconeri. Juventus, fresh from signing Cristiano Ronaldo, already boasted an attack comprising established stars.

Moise Kean and Ronaldo

His breakthrough eventually came during the second half of the season, when injuries and necessary rotation came into play.

In March 2019, he scored in back-to-back Serie A matches against Udinese and Empoli. Those goals were decisive strikes that kept Juventus’ momentum strong in the title race.

Then came the international break, where Kean’s form carried over to the national stage. Scoring for Italy against Finland and Liechtenstein boosted his morale and built his confidence.

His impressive display in front of goal continued after the international break in April. He scored against Cagliari in a tense away fixture, showing resolute reaction and maturity despite hostile fan abuse and racist chants. 

He then followed it up by finding the net against AC Milan in a crucial clash at the Allianz Stadium.

In total, Kean scored six goals in just thirteen league appearances that season, an impressive scoring rate considering his limited minutes throughout the season. He also scored in the Champions League this season.

While Ronaldo and other attacking players took center stage in the media, Moise Kean proved a vital figure to Allegri, whom he could use to change the rhythm and overall outcome of a match.

By the end of the 2018/19 season, Kean had transformed from a promising academy product into a genuine match-winner.

But the competition was fierce—Moise Kean had the unprecedented task of unseating the prince of Madeira from the tip of the attack. He simply stood no chance.

The Dreadful Move to Everton

Moise Kean was at the point in his career where he had to choose between staying at Juventus and aiming to break into the first team or push for a permanent move away from the club.

Many did not expect his preferred destination to be the Premier League. Of all the shouts of Balotteli 2.0, the Prem was an odd choice for Moise Kean. But he was a mercurial talent—he should be able to shine even if it is in Merseyside or the Midlands.

Juventus had agreed to sell him for a fee in the region of £25–27 million, excluding add-ons. For Everton, it was a statement signing. They had just acquired the services of one of Europe’s top youngsters.

Kean arrived in a transitional Everton side, with Marco Silva trying to find the right balance between youth and experience. Frankly, they offered an environment similar to that of Hellas Verona, where he could impact plays effectively.

Moise Kean holding his head against Everton

But the wheels came off very fast. Kean often found himself starting from the bench, coming on in situations where the team struggled to control games.

Moments of indiscipline off the pitch further contributed to his torrid time in England. 

Then came the lowest point of his career when caretaker manager, Duncan Ferguson, hooked Kean away from the game, nineteen minutes after bringing him on as a substitute. This was always an informal indictment of a player’s lack of fitness or tactical awareness. It was the same pit where Ousmane Dembele found himself in 2022.

There were also reports of lateness to team meetings, which drew criticism from sections of the media and Everton faithful.

In the end, two goals in thirty-three appearances paint a clear picture — a terrible spell.

Redemption in Paris

In October 2020, Kean made a loan move to join Paris Saint-Germain.

Freed from the shackles of his struggles at Everton and the moodiness of the British Isles, he entered a side packed with attacking talent. Ultimately, the coach gave him the right amount of game time to flourish.

Moise Kean celebrating a goal at PSG

Sharing the pitch alongside the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, and Ángel Di María, Kean contributed immensely to the team’s domestic and international exploits.

Training and playing alongside star-studded teammates boosted his confidence and improved his composure in front of goal.

Kean scored 17 goals in all competitions, signalling that he could perform at the top level.

This change in fortunes could not have come at a better time. The media that once labelled him a misfit who failed to adapt at Everton began changing their perception of him.

Moise Kean shaking hands with Neymar

Although some viewed his success at PSG as a purple patch, many acknowledged his willingness to change the narrative of his career and become a consistent player.

Among fans, the skepticism about his ability to excel began to fade, and a keen belief in his talent gradually resurfaced.

The loan move to PSG brought solace and helped reinstate him as one of Europe’s top strikers.

Juventus Homecoming

When Moise Kean returned to post-Ronaldo Juventus in the summer of 2021, it felt like a full-circle moment, but with a twist. He returned not as an academy graduate but as a refined striker with the experiences of three top leagues under his belt.

Everton structured the deal as a two-year loan with an obligation to buy. While it seemed like an unusual transfer structure, it felt like a second-chance opportunity for the Italian to show he had what it took to play regularly in Turin.

His second spell did not produce an immediate avalanche of goals, with his manager Massimiliano Allegri deploying him in central positions and wide attacking roles.

The season ended on an average note, and the silver lining to his performance saw him rack up over thirty appearances in a top-flight season for the first time in his career.

The following season was the same as the previous. Kean was not a guaranteed starter, and he tried his best to influence games with the minutes given.

In 2023, Juventus completed the permanent transfer as agreed with Everton. Throughout the season, Kean did not repay the faith of the Bianconeri.

During the January transfer window of 2024, Kean was very close to joining Atletico Madrid on loan. Unfortunately, the deal collapsed on deadline day, after he failed a medical examination with the Spanish club.

He saw out the rest of the season in Turin with an abysmal output of no goals or assists; it was terrible.

It was not the “prodigal son returns” story he had hoped for, and it was imminent that a move away from the club would suit both parties.

Revival at Fiorentina

Moise Kean’s move to Fiorentina in July 2024 felt like a needed respite in times of trials. He left Juventus for around €13 million, a pretty decent fee for a striker with no attacking returns the previous season.

Moise Kean joins Fiorentina

Unsurprisingly, the transfer went under the radar, and those who kept tabs on his journey did not expect much from him going into the season.

But once he donned the purple jersey, he flourished.

His goal drought in the Serie A ended within days. He netted his first Fiorentina goal in a Conference League playoff just five days after his debut, indicating he came to shine in Florence.

This season felt like his resurrection experience. In 44 appearances across all competitions, he racked up an incredible 25 goals.

In the Serie A season, Kean scored nineteen goals and three assists in 32 league matches, averaging nearly 0.6 goals per game.

His goalscoring exploits saw him finish second in the race for the Capocannoniere, behind Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui. He also propelled Fiorentina to another season in Europe’s continental tournament.

Moise Kean had finally found a system that complemented him, and the output was forthcoming.

By the end of the season, rumours of interest from Europe’s giant clubs began surfacing. Manchester United and Bayern Munich showed genuine interest, while Arsenal and Liverpool viewed him as a reasonable option to bolster their attacking options.

Looking at the top goal scorers standing for the 2024/2025 season, Kean’s position was not really a surprise in retrospect. What was surprising was the fact that it took this long for him to establish himself in Europe.

Kean’s time in Florence has been a revelation. He rediscovered his confidence, and with the summer transfer window reaching its summit, he looks poised to remain at Fiorentina.

International Career with Italy

Moise Kean has represented Italy across all levels. His journey with the Azzurri started long before he made the headlines with the senior squad; it began in the youth ranks.

Moise Kean playing for Italy

He featured regularly for Italy’s U-15s and U-17s. He performed in the 2016 UEFA European U-17 Championship qualifiers, scoring crucial goals that carried Italy through the group stages.

By 2017, he had progressed to the U-19s, playing a key role in their run to the final of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Finland. While Italy came up short in an epic 4-3 final loss to Portugal, Kean’s performances stood out. Less than a year later, he earned a spot with Italy’s U-21 squad.

His breakthrough at the senior level with the national team came in November 2018 when Kean made his senior debut for Italy in a friendly against the United States.

Remember those outstanding feats he achieved at the senior club level; he achieved similar feats with the national team.

At 18 years and 265 days, he became one of the youngest players to wear the Azzurri shirt in the modern era.

His first competitive start came during a Euro 2020 qualifier against Finland in March 2019, and he seized the moment.

He scored Italy’s second goal in a 2-0 win, becoming the youngest goalscorer for Italy in a competitive match at 19 years and 23 days.

Just days later, he scored again against Liechtenstein, making him the first player born in the 2000s to net for Italy at the senior level and the youngest to score in consecutive games for the Azzurri since 1958.

Kean did experience a period of exile from the national team, but with his brilliant season with Fiorentina, his return to the fold is looming.

Off-Pitch Identity 

It is hard to talk about the life and career of Moise Kean without talking about his off-the-pitch identity.

He isn’t just a striker defined by his goals; he’s an artist, an advocate, and a figure who uses his platform to push for change in ways that transcend far beyond the pitch.

Kean’s love for music, especially rap, has always been part of his personality. In late 2024, he made that passion tangible by releasing his debut album Chosen under the stage name “KMB.”

This was not some side quest antic or social media challenge; this was a passionate work of art from someone who had a lot to tell through his music.

Aside from music and football, Kean has been a prominent figure in serious social issues, especially racism. It saddens me how young black players are easily susceptible to racist remarks from fans.

Having been on the receiving end of racial abuse both in Italy and abroad, Kean has turned those painful experiences into a catalyst for advocacy. He has spoken about the need for individuals and organizations to be intentional about combating racism.

He has also been at the forefront of some charitable works, emphasizing how football can be a good path for underprivileged kids and young people.

In recent years, Kean has also become a vocal supporter of mental-health awareness. He has shared insights into the pressures athletes face, battling with injuries, public scrutiny, and the constant need to be at their absolute best.

He might not be everyone’s favourite player. Still, with the journey he has had and his contributions to making the football community more humane, he has my utmost respect and admiration.

What Lies Ahead for Moise Kean?

Looking ahead, Moise Kean’s future feels like one of the most intriguing stories in modern football.

After his fantastic season with Fiorentina, he should be looking to repeat such brilliance during the new season or perform better than he did last season.

As we have come to know, your performance at the end of a season that coincides with the start of a World Cup is significant. 

Kean is looking to represent Italy at the biggest tournament in football, and his displays during the 2025/26 season will determine if he deserves to be selected.

Looking beyond this season and the World Cup, the main question on fans’ minds is how long he can continue performing at this high level.

If he can continue refining his game and improving his overall attributes, he is going to remain one of Europe’s top strikers.

It is worth highlighting that he is still just 25, even though it feels like he has been around for a long time. If he settles into a defined role and gets consistent minutes, his numbers will almost certainly spike.

Beyond football, time will show how his music career will play out. That crossover appeal can make him a cultural figure in the mould of someone like Memphis Depay, with the potential of superseding the latter’s input within sports, entertainment, and social movements.

Maturity is finally catching up, and with the Italian entering his prime, he can finally live up to the hype he gained during his youthful days.

Who wrote this?

biegagakpati@gmail.com

Bienuoma Agaga-Akpati is a software engineer, writer, eSports player, and sports enthusiast, presently working with a group of ambitious Africans to transform the writing industry. With good knowledge of various sports and eSports, coupled with his keen ability for research, he loves analyzing ideas and topics that fosters the growth of the sport and eSports scenes. In his spare time, he enjoys creating content and engaging in discussions across various platforms.

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Bienuoma
Bienuoma Agaga-Akpati is a software engineer, writer, eSports player, and sports enthusiast, presently working with a group of ambitious Africans to transform the writing industry. With good knowledge of various sports and eSports, coupled with his keen ability for research, he loves analyzing ideas and topics that fosters the growth of the sport and eSports scenes. In his spare time, he enjoys creating content and engaging in discussions across various platforms.

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