[4][5][6] On 22 May 2022, at 16 years old, Pafundi made his professional debut for Udinese, coming on as a substitute for Roberto Pereyra at the 68th minute of the team's final league game of the season, a 4–0 away win over Salernitana.

[8] On 25 January 2024, Pafundi joined Swiss club Lausanne-Sport on loan until the end of the year,[9][10] with the deal including an option-to-buy reported to be in the region of €15 million.

[11][12] In May 2023, he was included in the Italian squad that took part in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina,[13] where the Azzurrini finished runners-up after losing to Uruguay in the final match.

In May 2022, Pafundi was called-up by head coach Roberto Mancini to join a training camp with the Italy senior national team, as part of a stage reserved to the most promising players in the country.

[18] A short, left-footed trequartista, Pafundi has been regarded mainly for his ball control, vision and pace, which allow him to be a frequent threat in the final third, both as an assist-man and as a finisher.