Nigeria defender Ola Aina has revealed that his spell in the Italian Serie A with Torino played a decisive role in transforming him into a more complete defender.

Aina, who came through Chelsea’s academy, said his time in Italy exposed him to the tactical and defensive demands of the game in a way he had not experienced during his early career in England. 

The 29-year-old moved to Torino on loan from Chelsea in 2018 after struggling for regular playing opportunities at Stamford Bridge. The transfer became permanent a year later, with Aina spending two seasons with the Serie A club.

Reflecting on his development, the Nottingham Forest defender admitted that he had not fully understood the art of defending before making the move to Italy.

“I am a defender, but I did not know how to defend when I was still at Chelsea,” Aina said. 

“But when I went to Italy, I started learning how to defend. Before that, I was not defending; I was just there. But now I can defend.” 

Aina’s comments underline the influence of Serie A’s tactical demands on his development, particularly in areas such as positioning, one-on-one defending and reading defensive situations. 

The Nigerian had already established himself as a versatile defender during his time at Chelsea, but his experience at Torino gave him the opportunity to develop a stronger understanding of the defensive responsibilities attached to his position.

After leaving Italy, Aina returned to England and later represented Fulham before joining Nottingham Forest on a permanent transfer in 2023.

His versatility has since made him an important option for both Forest and Nigeria, with the defender capable of operating on either side of the defence as well as in a more advanced wing-back role.

Aina has also had to adapt to different tactical demands at Nottingham Forest this season under manager Oliver Glasner, with the Nigerian operating between right wing-back and right centre-back. 

His development in Italy therefore remains an important chapter in a career that has taken him from Chelsea’s academy to Serie A and back to the Premier League.

Aina has previously described leaving England for Italy as one of the most pivotal decisions of his career, citing the experience of moving outside his comfort zone and adapting to a different language and way of life. 

For the Super Eagles, Aina’s improved defensive understanding has become an important part of his value, alongside his ability to play multiple positions across the backline.

The defender returned to the national team in September after being absent since suffering an injury during Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in September 2025. He has since been part of coach Eric Chelle’s plans for the Super Eagles. 

His journey offers another example of how exposure to different football cultures can shape a player’s tactical understanding and ultimately influence his development at the highest level.