In a somewhat surprising and fast developing story Christopher Nkunku has joined Milan from Chelsea. The forward who has a history of scoring ability, having been Bundesliga top scorer with RB Leipzig back in 2021-2022, had been a PSG prospect and player before moving to Germany. Chelsea paid the German team 60 million for the Frenchman two years ago.
He joins the team in the final days of the window with the team very much in need of his direct central strengths. Milan’s transfer window is somewhat chaotic but that’s not a new thing but a forward is certainly needed with the only recognized forward’s, Gimenez, future uncertain.
The reported transfer fee for Nkunku is €37 million plus €5 million addons. It is reported that he has cut his salary and it is now around €5 million.
Nkunku has chosen the number 18 jersey and is signed until 2030.
Lecce – Milan Serie A Matchday 2 August 29 2025 20:45CET
Milan travel to Lecce amidst the chaos of the final days of the summer transfer window and following the week 1 home loss to Cremonese. The season opener exposed mostly obvious weaknesses at the back where a back three had been tried at least partially due to the lack of bodies available to Allegri. The front two and the attack in general were poor and Leao’s early exit injury hampered the team with very limited options.
Leao injured a muscle and is set to miss this match as well. Late in the week had Jashari injured in training and the midfielder could miss a few weeks. The squad remains very thin and at 22 players misses options and variations. A lot more movement is set to happen before the Monday September 1 deadline and window closure. The team might not look much different but the squad size surely needs to increase. Several names are rumoured with all positions in flux and time will tell if the likes of Chukwueze, Musah and Jimenez will be Milan players next week. Gimenez’s agent, at least, shut down the Mexican forward’s exit talk.
For now however it is somewhat difficult to predict a starting 11. Even with the relative few options Allegri could move players around. The 3-5-2 might be seen for the last time at Lecce depending on the players that arrive, and leave too. Tomori, Gabbia and Pavlovic will start in front of Maignan. De Winter is one back up option. The mid five should be Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Fofana and Estupinan but as mentioned Allegri might make changes. Pulisic and Gimenez are likely starters up front.
Leece of course feature Camarda. It is the opinion of this writer that the 17 year old, being so highly touted, belongs at Milan and has to grow with the team and not loaned out, with or without various options and buy backs. Eusebio Di Francesco may or not give the youngster many minutes and his growth will take a different trajectory in another environment regardless of those minutes.
Milan – Cremonese Serie A Matchday 1 August 23 2025 20:45CET
The 2025 – 2026 Serie A season is here and Milan start versus Cremonese at the San Siro. To say it has been a summer of change is an understatement, even by Milan standards. A total of 23 players have left or loaned again after being away last season. Tare has been busy finding some noteworthy destinations for the likes of Royal Emerson (Flamengo) for example. The team has signed seven players with an eighth (Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface) said to be imminent. More about all the transfer activity soon with the summer window closing in less than two weeks.
Allegri has found enough bodies for a 3-5-2 for most of the preseason and up to this point. The preference still lies in a 4-3-3 or perhaps a 4-4-2 and additional players and changes may allow the coach to switch to a more oft used formation.
Maignan was said to be another exit candidate and despite a 2026 expiring contract is considered an important player and is instead a candidate for an extension and for the captaincy. The French goalkeeper will start when healthy. A back three likely means Tomori, Gabbia and Pavlovic as starters. New comer De Winter is the only alternative in the thin 22 man squad as it stands. The middle five is almost all change from last season with Saelemaekers on the right and three of Ricci, Loftus-Cheek, Fofana, Jashari and Modric starting with Estupinan the left wing back of sorts. Modric’s minutes look set to be managed even with Milan not having many games this season without European competition.
Leao left the Coppa Italia win against Bari very early with what looked like a muscle in jury. He is listed as day to day and will miss this match and perhaps the week 2 match at Lecce. Gimenez, who is apparently another player on the market, will replace the Portuguese winger. In the absence of another true center forward Pulisic will play up front again.
Davide Nicola’s Cremonese have been active in the transfer window and have acquired three Milan players in Filippo Terracciano and Warren Bondo on loan plus Futuro goalkeeper Lapo Nava permanently.
Noah Okafor becomes the latest player in the summer 2025 mass exit from Milan. The Swiss midfielder joined Milan two years ago for around €15 million from RB Salzburg and spent one season on loan at Napoli. Now Leeds have taken the player on a permanent basis for around €20 million.
Okafor scored 7 times in 54 total appearances for Milan mainly from the left wing. He likely won’t be replaced man for man as Milan are concentrated on finding a more direct center forward.
Milan – Bari Coppa Italia Matchday 2 August 17 2025 21:15CET
The 2024-2025 Serie A eighth placed finish wasn’t enough for Milan to get a bye into the last 16 stage of the 2025-2026 Coppa Italia. Bologna won last season’s Coppa Italia and grabbed the last 16 slot despite finishing 9th and behind Milan. Milan will now have to play this match and if Bari are beaten meet Lecce (who beat Juve Stabia this week) in the last 32 stage in September.
It has been another summer of change, ala another year zero, for Milan. More on this coming soon ahead of the Serie A opening season next weekend. For now however Milan are lacking center forward options with only Gimenez the true one available to start. Allegri has been using and testing a 3-5-2 with Leao and Pulisic up front. It looks like this will be used in this match to kick off competitive games for the 2025-2026 season.
Maignan will start and the summer has included whispers of the French keeper leaving. Milan seem intent on keeping the player but an extension is yet to be agreed on his 2026 expiring contract. The back three is like to feature familiar names of Tomori, Gabbia and Pavlovic. Newcomer De Winter is ready to support. The five man midfield will look different. Saelemaekers is back from loan and very likely to stay. The Belgian will start on the right side with Loftus-Cheek, Ricci, Fofana and Estupinan completing the middle. Jashari and Modric have joined the team more recently and may be mostly saved for the Serie A opener.
As mentioned Allegri has little options upfront even though Okafor is still part of the team and in good form. Chukwueze finished last season showing flashes of for in rare minute. The Nigerian is also clearly a good teammate, deserves to stay with the team and is available as well.
Zachary Athekame joins Milan as the pursuit of the right back concludes. The Swiss player’s name had come up after several right back names were floated and never materialized. The likes of Marc Pubill did not arrive and Milan needing right sided players to complete the squad opted for Athekame.
The player is lesser known and younger than most other names in the fullback rumour mill this summer. His scouting reports mention him as a more attacking and crossing type player and it remains to be seen how Allegri uses him if the coach opts for a three center back formation.
The player has signed on until 2030 and chosen the 24 jersey. The reported transfer fee is around €10 million with a €1.8 million salary.
Koni De Winter joins Milan from Genoa signing a contract until 2030. The Belgian defender had spent time in the Juventus youth system before being loaned and subsequently bought by Genoa.
Genoa bought the player for a reported €11 million last year and hold a 20% percentage sell on fee agreement with Genoa. De Winter replaces the outgoing Thiaw.
The transfer is reportedly cost Milan €20 million and the player’s salary is €2 million.
Thiaw has joined the exodus out of Milan. The team has now lost over half of its 2024-2025 squad members. Only a few are replaced so far but the transfer window is still open and some won’t be replaced as Allegri insists on a small squad.
Rumours of Thiaw’s exit had been whispered but as is typical with Milan anything could happen and the summer of 2025 has turned into another year zero type rebuild. With Tare’s (and Allegri’s) presence a fan can at least be content in that this sale for example has turned a very big profit for the accounting books. The German was bought for around €9 million three summers ago and is being sold for four times the amount.
Ardon Jashari’s transfer saga has come to an end. The Switzerland international had set his sights on joining Milan and rejected all other approaches. Club Brugge, infamous for being tough negotiators, at least when it comes to Milan (see Charles De Ketelaere’s transfer to Milan) finally relented and allowed the midfielder to join Milan.
The 23 years old player is an addition to midfield that has added Modric and Ricci this summer. A revamp of the midfield is underway with Allegri still in the process of finding the best possible formation for the coming season.
The reported transfer fee is €39 million including €4.5 million bonuses, this is barely shy of the reported 40 million demanded by the Belgian team. Jashari’s salary is said to be €2.4 million.
