Serie A 2025-26 Preview: New Faces, Big Transfers, and a Wide-Open Title Race

If you’ve followed Serie A over the last decade, you’ll know one thing for sure — it’s no longer the “Juventus show” it used to be. For nine straight seasons, The Old Lady painted the league in black and white, hoarding Scudetti like they were family heirlooms. But those days are gone. The grip has loosened, the playing field is more open, and in the last six years alone we’ve seen four different champions.

That unpredictability is exactly what makes the Italian top flight so exciting heading into the 2025-26 season. The balance of power has shifted, star players are scattered across the league, and neutrals have plenty to cheer about. And while Juventus still lingers near the top, Napoli, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and even Roma are determined to keep the title race as unpredictable as possible.

When Does It All Kick Off?

The curtain rises on August 23, 2025, and fans will get their fill of drama right through to May 24, 2026. That’s nine months of storylines, rivalries, heartbreaks, and title races. So mark your calendars — this season promises fireworks.

Who’s the Team to Beat?

Napoli enters the season with the swagger of a champion. Having lifted the Scudetto twice in the last three years, they’re no longer the underdog darling; they’re the dynasty in the making. But keeping the crown won’t be easy.

• Napoli: Two Scudetti in three years, Kevin De Bruyne added for free, but they sold superstar Victor Osimhen. Can they balance the losses with fresh firepower like Noa Lang and Sam Beukema?

• Inter Milan: Still powerful, with Lautaro Martínez leading the charge and new signing Luis Henrique ready to shine.

• AC Milan: Pulisic and Musah remain in the mix, joined by Luka Modric’s veteran brain and a refreshed defense.

• Juventus: Reinventing themselves again, signing Jonathan David and snatching Nico González from Fiorentina.

• Roma: Don’t overlook them. With Evan Ferguson on loan and Wesley Franca in the attack, they’re sneaky good.

Oddsmakers still lean toward Napoli and Inter, but Milan and Juve aren’t too far behind. Even Roma isn’t considered a long shot this year. In short: the Scudetto is wide open.

Relegation and Promotion: Who’s In, Who’s Out

Change isn’t just at the top. At the other end of the table, three teams said goodbye to Serie A last season: Empoli, Venezia, and Monza.

Replacing them are:

• Sassuolo (back after a tough spell),

• Pisa (a throwback name fans are eager to see again),

• Cremonese (hungry to prove they belong).

Promotions always shake things up, and this trio brings both nostalgia and new rivalries into the mix.

Transfer Window Madness: Big Moves, Bigger Questions

Italian summers aren’t just about gelato and the Amalfi coast — they’re about jaw-dropping transfer sagas. The 2025 transfer window was no exception, with blockbuster moves across the peninsula:

• Napoli: Signed Kevin De Bruyne (yes, that KDB) on a free! Also brought in PSV’s Noa Lang and Bologna’s Sam Beukema. Lost Osimhen to Galatasaray.

• AC Milan: Sold Tijjani Reijnders to Man City and Theo Hernandez to Saudi Arabia. Added Ricci, Estupiñán, and Luka Modric. Risky? Maybe. Exciting? Absolutely.

• Inter Milan: Grabbed Luis Henrique from Marseille and striker Ange-Yoan Bonny.

• Juventus: Free transfer coup with Jonathan David, plus Nico González from Fiorentina. A mix of smart and bold moves.

• Roma: Signed Wesley from Flamengo and Neil El Aynaoui, plus Evan Ferguson on loan. Losing Enzo Le Fée stings, but Mourinho’s men love proving doubters wrong.

• Atalanta: Cashed in big by selling Mateo Retegui to Saudi Arabia, reinvesting in Kamaldeen Sulemana.

• Como: Still building ambitiously — Perrone from Man City, Nicolas Kuhn from Celtic.

Oh, and Bologna sold Dan Ndoye to Nottingham Forest for serious cash. Money talks, and Serie A clubs were definitely listening this summer.

Spotlight on American Stars

For U.S. fans, Serie A isn’t just “some foreign league” anymore. It’s become a home for some of the country’s biggest stars:

• Christian Pulisic (AC Milan): The face of American soccer abroad, thriving in Milan red.

• Yunus Musah (AC Milan): Holding down the midfield with energy and consistency.

• Weston McKennie (Juventus): Still wearing black and white, still one of the most important midfielders in Turin.

Timothy Weah may have left Juve for Marseille, but the USMNT trio still gives American fans plenty of reason to watch Serie A week in and week out.

Who Will Be the Goal King?

The Capocannoniere — Serie A’s golden boot award — is one of the league’s juiciest subplots. This year’s contenders?

• Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan): The favorite. He’s been scoring for fun.

• Jonathan David (Juventus): A new arrival but with a huge reputation.

• Dusan Vlahović (Juventus): Always lurking near the top of scoring charts.

• Romelu Lukaku & Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan): A double threat from Inter.

• Santiago Giménez (Napoli): Mexico’s top striker, ready to make waves.

• Artem Dovbyk (Roma): A dark horse with serious finishing skills.

Even the opening rounds have shown how spread out the scoring can be. De Bruyne already has one, Pulisic has chipped in, and journeymen like Patrick Cutrone and Manuel De Luca are already on the board.

Early Standings: Who’s Flying High?

It’s way too early to crown champions, but the table after the first couple of weeks paints an interesting picture:

• Napoli, Cremonese, Roma: Perfect starts with 6 points each.

• Inter & Juventus: Right behind with strong opening wins.

• AC Milan, Como, Bologna: Mixed bags so far, still in the fight.

• Atalanta & Fiorentina: Surprisingly slow out of the gate.

• Sassuolo & Torino: Bottom feeders after early struggles.

Yes, Cremonese — one of the newly promoted sides — is sitting at the top right now. Will it last? Probably not. But that’s the magic of the early season.

Why Serie A 2025-26 Feels Different

What makes this season stand out compared to others in the past?

1. Parity at the top: No one is running away with the title anymore.

2. Global stars: From KDB to Jonathan David, Santiago Giménez to Pulisic, the league is brimming with international talent.

3. American connection: With three USMNT stars, U.S. fans are more invested than ever.

4. Promoted teams shaking things up: Cremonese’s hot start proves the league is anything but predictable.

Final Word

Serie A has gone from a predictable snoozefest dominated by Juventus to arguably the most compelling top league in Europe. With Napoli defending their crown, Milan clubs plotting a comeback, Juventus rebuilding with fresh stars, and Roma always lurking, the Scudetto race is wide open. Add in a crazy summer of transfers, the rise of American players, and the promise of breakout stars, and you’ve got a season that’s must-watch from start to finish.

So grab your espresso, clear your weekend mornings, and get ready — because Serie A 2025-26 is here, and it’s about to be one of the wildest rides in recent memory.