Hull City Recruitment Setback as Fortini Joins Torino

Hull City’s Italian recruitment drive has hit a wall. Twice.

Niccolò Fortini has officially joined Torino on loan from Fiorentina, with an option to buy, shutting the door on a potential move to the MKM Stadium. On the same day, reports in Italy say Juventus forward Jonathan David has also rejected an approach from the Premier League club.

For Hull, it’s a bruising 24 hours.

Fortini chooses Granata project over England

Torino announced Fortini’s arrival on Friday, confirming a deal that underlines how highly the 20-year-old is rated in Serie A circles.

The agreement is an initial loan from Fiorentina, valued at €500,000 according to TMW, with an option to buy set at €9.5m. Before signing off on the move, Fiorentina moved quickly to protect their asset, extending Fortini’s contract from 2027 out to 2030, then sending him to Turin to accelerate his development.

The versatile full-back had been in talks with Hull City, and interest from England was genuine. Italian outlets had already reported last week that Fortini had made up his mind and chosen Torino, and the official confirmation has now arrived.

For Torino, it’s a smart, structured play: a young, adaptable defender with top-flight minutes ahead of him and a clear price tag if he delivers. For Hull, it’s a near miss in a market where every target seems to matter.

David says no to England

If Fortini slipping away was a setback, the next piece of news felt like a second punch.

Tuttosport reports that Jonathan David has turned down the chance to join Hull City, opting to remain at Juventus. The Turin-based paper claims the Canada international wants to stay and fight for his place rather than cross to the Premier League.

Hull’s interest underlines the club’s ambition to land a high-profile attacking name, but David’s stance is clear: his future, at least for now, lies in Turin.

Two calls. Two rejections.

Hull City are still in the market. The question now is whether they can turn this Italian frustration into a statement signing from elsewhere – or whether this window will be remembered for the deals that slipped away.