Serie A side Cagliari have signed Zambia U20 national team striker Kingston Mutandwa, the club has confirmed.
Mutandwa has penned a four-year deal with the newly promoted Serie A side but will start the season with the U20 team. Mutandwa becomes the first player to join a Serie A side directly from Zambia but the second Zambian after Lameck Banda to join the top five European League. Banda moved to US Lecce from the Israeli top flight.
“I am beyond thrilled! It’s a dream come true to play in the top 5 leagues. I’d like to express my deepest gratitude toward Atletico Lusaka, my club, the club that believed in me from day one, and grew me! I owe this day to them,” said Mutandwa, adding: “I am committed to working diligently on the pitch to improve and to assist my new team. I am equally appreciative of my agent Nir Karin who’s been by my side since the beginning.”
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Mutandwa, who joined Atletico Lusaka in August 2021 from Central Province’s Division Three side Sunshine, spent two months at Israeli top flight side Maccabi Petah Tikva. He has been on assessment since last month. He scored for Cagliari U20 in their victory over Young Boys U23 in a friendly match over a week ago and provided an assist as Cagliari beat the Swiss side 3-1 in Bern.
The lanky forward led the attack for Zambia at the CAF U20 African Cup of Nations in Egypt where he scored a goal for the Junior Chipolopolo. Mutandwa later featured for Zambia U23 in an Olympic qualifier against Egypt. Cagliari are coached by Premier League winner Claudio Ranieri.