Milan have confirmed that Christopher Nkunku will return to RB Leipzig on loan until 30 June 2027, with the German club given the option to sign the France forward permanently.
The move takes Nkunku back to the club where he established himself before joining Chelsea. He completed the second part of his medical in Germany after travelling there the previous evening, paving the way for the transfer to be formally confirmed.
Milan said in an official statement: “AC Milan can confirm that Christopher Nkunku has joined RB Leipzig on loan, with an option to make the deal permanent, until 30 June 2027.
“The Club would like to thank Christopher for the professionalism and dedication that he has shown and wish him all the best for the upcoming season.”
Reports in Italy say Leipzig will pay an initial €4m loan fee for Nkunku. The option to make the transfer permanent has been set at €28m, meaning the total value of the deal would reach €32m if the German club decides to complete the signing at the end of the campaign.
Nkunku spent one season with Milan, making 35 appearances and contributing eight goals and three assists. However, he was among the players moved outside Ruben Amorim’s plans during the summer, along with Youssouf Fofana and Fikayo Tomori.
His departure provides Milan with additional room in a squad that the club’s hierarchy is still attempting to reshape. The club also continue to work on the future of Santiago Gimenez, who is training away from the group while Milan press Porto to turn their proposed option into an obligation to buy.
That deal is understood to be worth €20m. Milan’s efforts to resolve Gimenez’s situation come as the club manage several changes to their attacking and wider squad options.
For Nkunku, the transfer represents a return to RB Leipzig, where he previously built the reputation that ultimately helped secure his move to Chelsea. His spell at Milan ended after a season in which he remained involved regularly, but with his position no longer part of Amorim’s plans, the club have now sanctioned a move that could become permanent.
The loan agreement runs through 30 June 2027, while Leipzig’s €28m purchase option gives them the opportunity to decide whether Nkunku will remain in Germany on a long-term basis. Until that decision is made, the forward will continue his career at the club where he first made a significant name for himself.
