Nicola Zalewski (born 23 January 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a wing-back or attacking midfielder for Serie A club Atalanta. Born in Italy, he plays for the Poland national team.
Club career Roma
Zalewski made his professional debut for Roma on 6 May 2021 in the Europa League semi-final against Manchester United, replacing Pedro at the 76th minute and being instrumental to the winning goal, an own goal by Alex Telles, seven minutes later. He made his Serie A debut three days later, on 9 May, during a home game against Crotone. On 29 December, Roma announced his contract had been extended until 2025.
On 28 February 2022, he first played as a starter for Roma in their 1–0 win against Spezia. On 12 March 2023, he scored the first goal in his senior career in a 3–4 loss against Sassuolo Calcio. On 3 June 2023, he scored a goal in a 2–1 victory over Spezia. On 12 December 2024, he played the full 90 minutes and registered an assist in a Europa League group stage match against Braga, which concluded in Roma's 3–0 victory.
Inter Milan On 1 February 2025, Zalewski joined fellow Serie A team Inter Milan on loan, with an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season. The initial loan was reported to be a fee of €600,000, with the buy option at €6.5m. The following day, Zalewski made his debut for the club in the Milan derby, coming on as a substitute for Federico Dimarco in the 76th minute. He later assisted Stefan de Vrij’s equaliser in stoppage time. Zalewski scored his first goal for Inter in an away match against Torino on 11 May 2025 which Inter won 2–0. Zalewski's goal was the opening goal of that match.
On 23 June 2025, Inter officially exercised their option to buy, making the transfer permanent.
Atalanta On 18 August 2025, Zalewski signed a four-year contract with Serie A club Atalanta, joining the team for a reported transfer fee of €17 million.
On 14 September 2025, Zalewski scored his first goal in Atalanta colours, with a right footed shot from outside the box in the 70th minute. He also assisted teammate Giorgio Scalvini earlier in the match. However, just one week later against Torino, Zalewski was forced off by an injury in the 10th minute, being replaced by Raoul Bellanova.
International career Zalewski was born in Italy but has never applied for Italian citizenship, having an unlimited right to live and work in Italy in virtue of his EU citizenship. He was first selected by the youth selections of the Poland national team after being discovered by Zbigniew Boniek, head of the Polish Football Association and former Roma player. He made his debut for the senior team on 5 September 2021, in the World Cup Qualifier against San Marino where he came on in 66th minute and assisted Adam Buksa in the 94th minute who made it 7–1 for Poland.
On 7 June 2024, Zalewski was called up for UEFA Euro 2024. Three days later, he scored his first goal for Poland in a friendly against Turkey, dribbling down from the wing past two defenders and hitting a strike inside the box in the 90th minute to set the final score to 2–1.
On 5 September 2024, Zalewski scored a last-gasp penalty against Scotland in the group stage of the UEFA Nations League to win the game 3–2 in Poland's favour. The following month, he also scored in a 3–3 draw against Croatia in the same competition.
Personal life Zalewski was born in Tivoli to Polish parents and grew up in Poli. He has a sister, Jessica, born in 1992. His father, Krzysztof Zalewski, died of cancer on 24 September 2021.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCoppa ItaliaEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRoma2020–21Serie A100010—202021–22Serie A1601070—2402022–23Serie A33220120—4722023–24Serie A2202090—3302024–25Serie A1201040—170Total84260330—1232Inter Milan (loan)2024–25Serie A111202020171Atalanta2025–26Serie A3323060—4222026–27Serie A300020—50Total3623080—472Career total1315110430201875
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsPoland2021102022802023502024133202560202671Total404
Scores and results list Poland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Zalewski goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Nicola ZalewskiNo.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 10 June 2024 Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland 18 2–1 2–1 Friendly2 5 September 2024 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland 22 3–2 3–2 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A3 15 October 2024 Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland 25 2–3 3–3 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A4 31 March 2026 Nationalarenan, Solna, Sweden 34 1–1 2–3 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
Honours Roma UEFA Europa Conference League: 2021–22 Inter Milan UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2024–25 Supercoppa Italiana runner-up: 2024–25 Individual Polish Newcomer of the Year: 2022 Golden Boy Web: 2022
References
External links
Nicola Zalewski at the AS Roma website