Zaniolo cuts short Atalanta stint and rejoins Fiorentina on loan

Italy forward Nicolo Zaniolo has seen his loan spell at Atalanta terminated and rejoined Fiorentina on another temporary deal for the rest of the season.

Zaniolo joined Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray in 2023 but has spent much of the intervening period out on loan, representing Aston Villa in 2023-24, then joining Atalanta last July.

However, all 14 of his league appearances for La Dea – in which he has scored two goals – have come from the bench. Zaniolo has only played 344 minutes in Serie A all season.

That stay has been terminated, with fellow top-four contenders Fiorentina paying a €3.2million loan fee to take him to Florence.

Zaniolo was born in Tuscany and came through Fiorentina's youth system, before being released in 2016.

Welcome back Nicolo pic.twitter.com/XVedD3OYZ0
— ACF Fiorentina English (@ACFFiorentinaEN) February 3, 2025

The Viola hold a purchase option that allows them to sign Zaniolo permanently for €15.5m at the end of the season, according to Galatasaray's statement.

Fiorentina are currently fifth in Serie A, one point adrift of fourth-placed Juventus and eight behind Atalanta in third, though they possess a game in hand on both of those sides.