Milan Summer Shake-Up: Key Exits, New Signings & Potential Arrivals | OneFootball

After a season of broken dreams and busted promises, Serie A giants Milan are undergoing profound personnel changes. Indeed, the Rossoneri hit rock bottom in the 2024/25 campaign, failing to secure European qualification altogether.

Milan’s gamble with Paulo Fonseca didn’t pay off. After a dreadful first half of the season, they replaced the ex-Roma boss with Sergio Conceicao but still had to settle for a dismal eighth-place finish. If it was any consolation, they snapped a two-year title drought, courtesy of January’s Supercoppa Italiana triumph.

However, the club’s worst finish in Serie A since 2014/15 has already had repercussions, with Milan losing several first-team stars in the early summer. Forced to operate on a tight budget, Milan’s effort to rebuild their squad has encountered early setbacks, as financial constraints limit their ability to attract top-tier reinforcements.

Meanwhile, the San Siro heavyweights have turned to a familiar face to engineer a revolution. Massimiliano Allegri has returned to the club after an 11-year absence, bidding to bring Milan back to where they belong. After an unenviable second stint at Juventus, Allegri’s appointment has triggered mixed feelings.

Furthermore, the 19-time Serie A champions are struggling to equip the 57-year-old manager with the tools necessary to mount an immediate resurgence. Unfortunately, a lack of funds and limited market opportunities continue to hamper their transfer activity.

Without further ado, let’s look at Milan’s summer dealings.

Notable exits

For starters, Milan lost Tijjani Reijnders at the beginning of the summer. The Dutchman has joined Manchester City in a deal worth £46.5 million after two impressive seasons in Italy. Reijnders was the driving force in the middle of the park and Milan’s most creative player over the past two years.

Moreover, he was the club’s best goalscorer in Serie A last term, further underlining his significance to the team. Therefore, his exit in Milan’s midfield.

In addition to Reijnders, another first-team stalwart waved goodbye to San Siro in June. Theo Hernandez has linked up with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal. One of the world’s best left-backs halted his six-year association with Milan after facing mass criticism for his lackadaisical approach last term.

Far less significant are the sales of Pierre Kalulu and Marco Pellegrino.

Meanwhile, Alessandro Florenzi and Luka Jovic left as free agents as Milan refused to offer them new contracts.

Notable signings

Milan couldn’t let Reijnders’ departure go unanswered, so they moved quickly to sign Samuele Ricci from Torino. Despite Inter’s interest in the 23-year-old, the Rossoneri won the race, forking out around €23m to lure the Italian star to San Siro.

Ricci is among Serie A’s most highly rated talents and should be a massive coup for Allegri’s side. However, there’s a feeling that his arrival alone may not be enough to fill the creative gap. As such, Milan could still add another midfielder this summer.

On the other hand, Pervis Estupinan has arrived from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported fee of £17m. Estupinan’s three-year stint in East Sussex made him one of the best offensive-minded fullbacks in the Premier League, suggesting he could be a decent successor to Hernandez.

However, Luka Modric is perhaps the most exciting signing. The former Real Madrid captain has penned a one-year contract at Milan. Despite being 39, Modric’s quality and experience remain undisputed, and his leadership could prove invaluable in stabilizing a transitional squad.

Players of Modric’s class are a dying species, and having him even for one season will likely elevate the standards in Milan’s dressing room.

Who could join?

Milan must reinforce their frontline after refusing to make Tammy Abraham’s transfer permanent. Santiago Gimenez remains the only out-and-out striker at Allegri’s disposal now that Francesco Camarda has moved to Lecce on loan without a buyout option.

As aforementioned, Milan’s limited spending power rules out the arrival of a household name. Yet, according to La Repubblica via MilanNews, Dusan Vlahovic could reunite with Allegri, with Milan willing to offer Juventus around €18m for the star center-forward.

Elsewhere, Milan’s pursuit of Club Brugge midfielder Ardon Jashari looks destined to fail. The Jan Breydel club turned down Milan’s opening bid for the Swiss ace and is holding out for a substantial €40m asking price. Therefore, it’s hard to see the Rossoneri completing this transfer.

With Jashari seemingly out of reach, Milan have added Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams to their list of targets. Still, it’s questionable whether this deal would increase the quality of the engine room.

Then, depending on the future of Malick Thiaw, Milan could pursue a new central defender. However, after rejecting a move to Como, the German will likely stay put.