English Premiership leaders Northampton Saints have secured the signing of Italian winger Malik Faissal, bolstering their squad for the upcoming season. The 20-year-old will make the move from Parma’s Zebre to Franklin’s Gardens, having already scored two tries in seven first-team appearances for the Italian club.
Faissal has represented Italy at the U20 level in the U20 Six Nations over the past two seasons, making 10 appearances and scoring three tries against England in two matches. Saints rugby director Phil Dowson praised the young talent: “Malik appears to be a very well-rounded player with some special athletic attributes. He possesses pace and has the ability to compete in the air, which is a crucial skill in today’s game.”
Dowson continued: “His work ethic has also impressed us; he works hard to get into the right positions on the field. Sam (Vesty) really likes his performance at the breakdown and his physicality in defense during tackles.”
Faissal will join fellow Italian winger Edoardo Todaro at the Saints for the 2026-27 season. Todaro had a strong start to the current campaign, scoring 10 tries in 13 matches and earning a call-up to the Italian senior national team before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. He is currently recovering.
Faissal expressed his excitement about the move: “Moving to England and playing in such a competitive league as the Premiership will be a real challenge, but it’s also a fantastic opportunity for my development as a rugby player and as a person. I’ve already had some great discussions with the coaches about my progress and how they can help me learn. The coaching guidance was one of the main reasons I chose to come to the Saints. I want to play for a team that is at the top of its game and learn from them.”