A place on a shortlist like this is rarely handed out on reputation alone.
That is the heart of his rise. Full-backs are judged on repeat actions: winning duels, recovering shape, carrying the ball with purpose and surviving long stretches without protection. Kayode appears to have passed that test quickly at Brentford.
His profile also fits the club. Brentford have built a reputation for backing players who can adapt fast and handle the league’s tempo. Kayode looks suited to that environment because his game is based on clarity rather than flourish.
That is why the nomination feels bigger than a nice headline. It suggests he has moved beyond “one to watch” status.
The update has also revived discussion around Gennaro Gattuso’s squad decisions, with the report saying Kayode’s absence from a recent Italy selection had already drawn criticism from fans and pundits. That reaction is understandable. When a young defender adapts this quickly in the Premier League, questions about his national-team place follow naturally.
What comes next is the real test. If Kayode carries this level into the new season, the award conversation may fade, but the case for a bigger role - at club and international level - will only grow louder.