English-born Ghana international Tariq Lamptey has spoken of his disappointment after Italian side ACF Fiorentina terminated his contract following a season heavily affected by injury problems.
The 25-year-old defender joined the Serie A club from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer in a reported €6m transfer and signed a three-year agreement with the Florence-based side.
However, his time with Fiorentina proved short-lived after a serious knee injury restricted him to only two appearances for the club.
Lamptey suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament during Fiorentina’s match against Como 1907 on 21 September 2025, just 22 minutes into what was his first and only start for the club. The injury ruled him out for the rest of the campaign and ultimately led Fiorentina to end the remaining two years of his contract because of concerns surrounding his recurring fitness issues.
The defender has now expressed regret that he was unable to make a greater impact at the club and connect with supporters during his brief spell in Italy.
“I was truly excited to play at Franchi, to wear this shirt, and to help the team on the pitch and give the fans something to cheer for,” he wrote.
Lamptey arrived in Florence with high expectations after completing his move from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. Fiorentina reportedly paid €6m for the versatile full-back, who had established himself as a Ghana international despite being born in England.
The move was seen as an opportunity for Lamptey to revive his career in Serie A after previous injury difficulties in England. Instead, his latest setback added to a series of fitness concerns that have interrupted his progress over recent years.
His only start for Fiorentina ended in disappointment after the serious knee injury against Como 1907. The anterior cruciate ligament rupture forced him into a lengthy rehabilitation period and prevented him from returning before the season concluded.
Fiorentina subsequently decided to terminate the defender’s contract rather than continue with the remaining two years of the agreement.
Lamptey’s latest injury problem is also expected to affect his international career in the immediate future. The defender is likely to miss Ghana’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as he continues his recovery and considers the next stage of his professional career.
The former Brighton player now faces another period of rehabilitation while searching for a new club after his difficult spell in Italy came to an abrupt end.
Despite the disappointment surrounding his departure from Fiorentina, Lamptey’s statement suggested he remained grateful for the opportunity to represent the club, even though injuries prevented him from fully demonstrating his abilities on the pitch.
The defender’s future remains uncertain as he works towards recovery from the serious knee injury that curtailed his Serie A ambitions less than three months after arriving in Florence.
