Cagliari have officially completed the signing of centre-back Raphael Kofler from Sudtirol, the club announced on Friday, adding one of the most promising young defenders in Italian football to their squad.
The 19-year-old arrives on an initial loan with an obligation to make the move permanent should certain sporting conditions be met, and has signed a contract running until 30 June 2032. "Cagliari Calcio announces that it has acquired from Sudtirol the sporting rights to player Raphael Kofler, who moves to the rossoblu on loan with an obligation to redeem upon the occurrence of certain sporting conditions," read the club's statement. Kofler signed his contract and joined his new team-mates at the training camp in Ponte di Legno on Thursday evening.
Standing 193cm tall, Kofler is a modern, physically imposing centre-back with strong reading of the game, solid in duels and effective in the air, and is considered one of the most promising young prospects in Italian football. Born in Merano on 26 April 2005, he came through Sudtirol's youth academy and completed his entire development with the Alto Adige club before establishing himself in the first team in 2023. His professional debut arrived that August in the Coppa Italia against Sampdoria, and he went on to make 74 appearances and score four goals for the biancorossi.
