Billy Gilmour reveals why he could not turn down Napoli move

Billy Gilmour has reflected on his decision to swap the Premier League for Serie A, admitting it was impossible to turn down the opportunity to join Napoli when the Italian giants came calling.

The Scottish midfielder spent two seasons with Brighton & Hove Albion before making the switch to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in August 2024, committing to a five-year contract in Naples. He lifted the Serie A title in his debut campaign under manager Antonio Conte and has established himself as an important figure in the squad, registering over 50 appearances across all competitions.

"It's an exciting league," Gilmour told Premier Sports TV. "When you have these big clubs from Italy who approach and say they want to sign you, it's very hard to say no. I wanted to come here; I wanted to challenge for trophies and be at such a great club."

Gilmour arrived in Naples on the exact same day as international compatriot Scott McTominay, who quickly became a fan favourite. McTominay claimed the Serie A Player of the Year award in 2025 following Napoli's Scudetto triumph and earned consecutive inclusions in the league's Team of the Year.

While McTominay has racked up 27 goals in 82 outings, he is currently recovering after undergoing minor heart surgery to treat a mild cardiac arrhythmia, with a return anticipated after the international window.

"Since he's been here, Scott's confidence has grown massively," Gilmour added regarding his Scotland and Napoli teammate. "You can see how much he means to the fans and to us as players; we can rely on him whenever we need a goal and need help. The same goes for Scotland. We're missing Scott now, and hopefully things went well; we can't wait to have him back."