AC Milan is one of the greatest and most well-storied clubs in the world, having won an incredible seven Champions Leagues and 19 Serie A titles. At least historically speaking. In recent years they have noticeably found it a struggle to achieve the heights of their former accolades. This makes clear however that AC Milan is a club ripe for a resurgence in the modern game, ready for a fresh set of trophies to fill their cabinet in the near future.
In the latter half of the 2024/25 season, things now look to be on the up with the new coaching style of manager Sergio Conceição and the stewardship of sporting director Geoffrey Moncada, who have been parachuted into the club to replace the recently departed Paulo Fonseca and Paolo Maldini.
We'll take a closer look at the current and potential future transfer strategy of AC Milan in this new era under a fresh leadership team, both on and off the field, as well as discuss how the club could go about restoring their dominance both in Serie A and on the continent. Of course, we will take into consideration what this means for the club's identity, ability to compete with the very best, and how they can stay compliant with FFP.
A New Era Under Conceição
Having come in to replace Paulo Fonseca, who managed just a 50% win rate out of his 24 matches in charge, Sergio Conceição looks poised to steady the ship and bring in a more pragmatic style of play, in stark contrast to the high-pressing, disciplined 4-3-3 system that was so initially appealing about Fonseca.
The Kids Are Alright
Despite having a tough season on and off the pitch, the rise of starlets Alex Jiménez (19) and Francesco Camarda (17) has given fans a reason to be optimistic about the future, despite both players already being liked with moves away from the club.
With Conceição being under immediate pressure to deliver results, and having a win percentage that's 4.55% lower than his predecessor, it'd be understandable for him to instead look toward the more experienced players in his squad. To that point, any further youth integration will likely have to wait until next season.
A Lack of Experience Up Front
Experience is essential for any team wanting to compete at the highest level. While Alan Hansen’s “you can't win anything with kids” quote has been derided in the years since, the core message remains true. Milan looked to add experience in the final third by adding Álvaro Morata to the mix, although, after just five goals in 16 league games, he was loaned to Galatasaray in January.
It's clear that his arrival was intended to replace the talismanic impact of Olivier Giroud, who amassed an impressive 49 goals in 132 appearances, despite joining the club at 34 years old. And while those checking the latest football scores might feel as though the decision to let him leave was the right one, having scored zero goals in 23 league appearances, neither of his successors at Milan has succeeded either.
With a loss of experience up front, and the lack of goals from new signing Santiago Giménez, it's easy to see why both managers have struggled to set the world alight so far.
Financial Constraints and Squad Planning
While the AC Milan leadership didn't exactly go all-out in the 2024 summer transfer window, they still brought in some recognizable names with the arrivals of Morata, Fofana and Emerson Royal, bringing their total net spend for the season, including the arrival of Giménez later in the season, to around €70m.
Outgoings are just as important as signings in the era of Financial Fair Play. However, Milan did little in terms of major squad overhailing aside from the sale of Charles De Ketelaere to Atalanta for €23m. The only other notable departures, aside from Giroud’s free transfer to the MLS (saving the club €5m per season in wages) were Luka Romero’s €3m move to Cruz Azul and Rade Krunić’s €3.5m sale to Fenerbahce.
It's clear things can't continue in the same way as before. The emphasis that has been placed on adding experience has backfired with the more experienced players failing to deliver (along with the rest of the squad). The same can be said for the temporary additions of Tammy Abraham and Kyle Walker. These loan signings might make financial sense when things go according to plan but ultimately, this Milan side has had a lacklustre season and these players, particularly Abraham, haven't added anything of note.
Shifting Club Identity and Fan Expectations
AC Milan is a club with a strong identity and pedigree in both Serie A and the Champions League, and while the club was once known for its flair and flashy players, it's now reverting to a Sacchi-like practicality under Conceição.
Whilst initially fans might have been excited for what the season could have had in store, the result we saw was underwhelming. Morata failed to replicate the heroics of Giroud, Abraham never really started scoring, and the January arrival of Walker, after a poor couple of seasons at Manchester City, left fans feeling underwhelmed.
Looking at The Next Five Years
While a title challenge may look like a distant prospect at the moment, a solid 2025/26 season could see the club get back into contention for the European placements, giving the side a platform to push onward the following year. However, strong recruitment with an emphasis on players in the 23- to 26-year-old bracket is the smart move going forward as they are yet to hit their peak but still have the experience needed to drive forward. This approach, while also keeping hold of the current emerging stars, should give Milan fans plenty of reason for optimism.
Final Thoughts
While the arrivals of Morata and Fofana in the previous summer looked to have given the club a much-needed boost in both the center and attacking areas, the past few transfer windows have been underwhelming. Strong recruitment moving forward is so important to the club’s success.
The club should do everything it can to remain relevant and add constancy both on and off the pitch. While this might sound overly simplistic, it's something that has been lacking in recent seasons. The Milan leadership has done a lot of great things in recent years with some brilliant signings added to the team, but over the past couple of years, they've lost their way.
Instead of seeing this season as a hothor show and one to be written off, fans should see it as an essential transitionary period. With youngsters coming up through the ranks and key players remaining with the team (for the time being), there are plenty of reasons for fans to be optimistic. Another golden era could be right around the corner!
