Christopher Nkunku has completed his €42 million transfer from Chelsea to AC Milan. The French forward signed a five-year deal until June 2030 and will wear the number 18 shirt. The deal includes €37–38 million upfront and up to €5 million in bonuses, while Chelsea secured a sell-on clause. To make the move happen, Nkunku accepted a pay cut, earning under €5 million per year.
Chelsea Struggles and Missed Chances
Nkunku’s two years in London were marked by frustration. He scored 18 goals and provided 5 assists in 62 games, but he only started 11 Premier League matches. His progress was stalled early by a knee injury in pre-season, and he never regained his full rhythm. Under Enzo Maresca, he mostly featured in Conference League matches, scoring against lower-level opposition but missing out on the league’s biggest stages.
Despite limited time, he left Chelsea with two trophies: the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Yet, his £60 million arrival from RB Leipzig never matched expectations, leaving fans wondering what could have been.
Milan’s Big Gamble
For Milan, this is a bold investment. Nkunku becomes their joint-second most expensive signing ever, tied with Leonardo Bonucci’s 2017 move. Only Rafael Leão’s €49.5 million arrival cost more. Nkunku is also Milan’s eighth signing of the summer.
🔴⚫️🇫🇷 Official, confirmed. Christopher Nkunku joins AC Milan from Chelsea on €37m fee plus €5m add-ons and sell-on.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 30, 2025
Nkunku signed a contract until June 2030.
Here with his agent Humberto Paiva from Pini Zahavi’s Gol International. pic.twitter.com/iT5jgM0oZL
The Rossoneri had chased other forwards like Victor Boniface and Conrad Harder but failed to land them. In Nkunku, they see a player who once dominated the Bundesliga with 70 goals for Leipzig and a Golden Boot in 2022/23. If he stays fit, he could become a game-changer in Serie A.
Chelsea’s Transfer Shake-Up
For Chelsea, this sale fits a larger plan. The club has raised over €320 million this summer, balancing books after a UEFA fine and creating room for new signings. With Nkunku gone, they are pushing for Alejandro Garnacho in a €40 million move, while Nicolas Jackson heads to Bayern Munich on loan.
Nkunku joins a growing list of former Chelsea men at Milan—Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, and Tomori. Now, his task is clear: to rebuild his career in Italy and prove he can still deliver on the big stage.
Sagnik Banerjee 
Vibhor Gautam