AC Milan reach verbal agreement with Chelsea to sign Christopher Nkunku

AC Milan and Chelsea have reached an agreement over the permanent transfer of Christopher Nkunku for a package of £36.2 million plus a sell-on clause, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Nkunku had attracted interest from clubs around Europe, with his former club RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich all interested in the forward, but they were unable to secure his signature.

Milan have explored moves for multiple forwards this transfer window, having Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface in for a medical and evaluating a move for Sporting CP’s Conrad Harder. Neither transfer materialised.

Nkunku moved to Chelsea in the summer of 2023 after clinching the joint highest goal scorer award (Torjägerkanone) in the Bundesliga for Leipzig.

The German didn’t impress, as he recorded 23 G/A in 62 appearances in his two-season spell at West London.

Last season he made 43 appearances in all competitions, scoring 14 goals, with the bulk of his goals coming from Chelsea’s Conference League triumph.

He played in six of the Blues’ seven Club World Cup games, scoring once in the tournament against Benfica en route to CWC glory.

The move will have wider implications for Chelsea, with negotiations advancing to sign winger Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.

Meanwhile, striker Nicolas Jackson is also in talks over an initial loan move to Bayern Munich, which could include an obligation to buy.

The 27-year-old Frenchman will be joining the Rossoneri, who finished eighth in Serie A last season and will hope to improve their attack after they lost their first league game of the 2025/26 campaign.

They play Leece away in their next league game tomorrow.