Nosa Edward Obaretin: Genoa eye move for Napoli’s Italian-Nigerian defender

Italian-Nigerian centre-back Nosa Edward Obaretin of Napoli is being linked with a move to Serie A rivals Genoa as the Ligurian club explore defensive reinforcements ahead of the new season.

Obaretin, 23, returned to Napoli this summer following a loan spell at Empoli and is under contract with the club until 30 June 2027, but his situation is attracting interest as Genoa assess players available for a permanent deal or structured transfer. The defender currently carries a market valuation of around €1.5 million, a figure that would make him a relatively affordable option within the Italian top flight.

Standing at 1.93m and naturally left‐footed, Obaretin has built up substantial experience across the Italian pyramid despite his age. He has made 54 appearances in Serie B and a further 33 in Serie C, alongside outings in domestic cups and youth competitions, giving potential buyers a large sample of senior minutes at professional level.

Born in Forli in January 2003 and developed in the academies of Cesena and AC Milan, Obaretin moved to Napoli’s youth ranks in 2022 before stepping up to the first-team squad the following year. Since then, he has been loaned out to Trento, Bari and Empoli to accelerate his progression and gain regular game time.

Napoli’s decision to extend his contract through to 2027 underlines the club’s leverage in any negotiations, and they are not under pressure to sell. For now, Obaretin remains a Napoli player preparing for the new campaign, with Genoa monitoring developments as they consider their options at centre-back.