AC Milan and RB Leipzig have reached an agreement for Christopher Nkunku to return to the Bundesliga, with the French forward expected to complete the move in the coming days.
The 28-year-old will rejoin his former club on an initial season-long loan worth €4 million, with the deal including a €28 million option to buy. Should Leipzig activate the clause, the total cost would reach €32 million.
Amorim overhaul
Nkunku is not part of new Milan head coach Ruben Amorim’s plans and joins Fikayo Tomori, Youssouf Fofana and Santiago Gimenez in being told they are surplus to requirements for the 2026-27 campaign. The Rossoneri begin their Serie A season away to Torino on Sunday, but the Frenchman will play no part.
His departure comes just twelve months after Milan paid €37 million to sign him from Chelsea. That fee represented a significant markdown on the €60 million the Blues had paid Leipzig for his services in 2023.
Italian struggles
Despite arriving at San Siro with an established reputation, Nkunku managed only seven goals and three assists across 32 Serie A appearances last term. He added one strike in two Coppa Italia outings but failed to convince the club’s hierarchy of his long-term value.
While Newcastle United had previously been linked with a move, Leipzig have won the race to secure the attacker’s return. The clubs are currently negotiating how to divide Nkunku’s €5 million net salary during the loan period before rubber-stamping the transfer.
The deal structure allows Milan to remove a significant wage burden from their books while giving Leipzig the flexibility to assess Nkunku’s form before committing to a permanent €28 million outlay. The player previously spent four years at the Red Bull Arena between 2019 and 2023, establishing himself as one of the Bundesliga’s most productive forwards.