Milan, seven players signed, fifteen sold...
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport in today's print edition, The AC Milan club management, which has are extremely active in the transfer market across every department have seen 260 million euros spent between incoming signings and exits so far. The figure couldalso still increase.
And the calculation does not include the five (Saelemaekers, Bennacer, Adli, Okafor, and Lazetic) who returned from loans elsewhere and are still owned, plus the seven who left Milanello on free transfers (Florenzi, Jovic, and Vasquez) or due to failed buyout clauses (Walker, Joao Felix, Sottil, and Abraham). In total, we are talking about thirty three "moved" athletes, one way or another. There are still more than two weeks left until the end of the transfer market and at least one more guaranteed signing in attack (we discuss it here on the side). But Milan’s summer can already be summed up with one word: revolution.
After all, following an eighth place finish in the league and a season that, despite the first trophy of the RedBird era, the Italian Supercup lifted in Riyadh, being called disappointing is an understatement, a decisive change of course was needed. And even before on the field, the Devil had already changed skin off it: Tare as sporting director, Massimiliano Allegri as coach. Two key figures in redesigning the squad.
The midfield
So far, for incoming transfers, Milan has spent only on transfer fees €102.5 million, which could rise to €111.5 million with bonuses. The most important investments? In the heart of every formation, the midfield. Ardon Jashari was the most expensive signing (€34 million plus €3 million in bonuses from Bruges), Samuele Ricci the second (€23 + 2 from Torino). Plus the luxury free transfer, Luka Modric, who brought the Ballon d’Or back to Italy: the last one had been Cristiano Ronaldo. Of course, in midfield the Devil also sold one of its most prized pieces, Tijjani Reijnders, bought for €57 million plus €15 million in bonuses by Guardiola’s Manchester City. But every revolution comes with painful sacrifices.
AC Milan's flanks and defence:
Other areas completely overhauled are the wide defensive lanes. On the left, out went Theo Hernandez (€25 million to Al Hilal), and in came Pervis Estupinan, Milan’s first Ecuadorian ever. Meanwhile, of the right-backs of 2024–25 (Emerson Royal, Calabria, Florenzi, Walker, and Jimenez), only the young Spanish ex Real Madrid player (Jimenez, precisely) remained. In compensation, Tare heavily focused on Zachary Athekame (to be officially announced today) and the return of Alexis Saelemaekers from the Roma loan, plus, optionally, the versatile Koni De Winter (€20 million including fixed fees and bonuses), whom Allegri already coached at Juventus before he moved to Genoa. The Belgian, however, is primarily a center-back, and it is no coincidence he was signed quickly (in less than 48 hours) after Thiaw’s departure to Newcastle for €40 million.
What about the rest?
In attack, the new striker is still awaited. Meanwhile, in terms of departures, at least three pieces are still missing: Bennacer, Adli, and Lazetic are not part of the first team squad and are officially on the market awaiting a new club. Tare also worked extensively with the youth (from Camarda and Comotto on loan to Lecce and Spezia respectively, to Liberali sent to Catanzaro with 50% of future resale) and managed to resolve tricky situations (from Emerson Royal placed at Flamengo to Morata returning from Galatasaray to finish at Como). The revolution is thus almost complete; only the final effort is needed. This was pointed out by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
