AC Milan have wrapped up a winter move that could turn out bigger than it looks on paper, finalising a loan deal to bring Niclas Füllkrug in from West Ham United, as reported by Fabrizio Romano via his official X account.
He said:
Niclas Füllkrug to AC Milan, here we go! Deal in place for loan move until June 2026. AC Milan will cover his salary, no loan fee and buy option around €13/14m not mandatory. Füllkrug wanted Milan despite two bids from Germany. Story revealed weeks ago, now done.
Softfootball recently reported that Fullkrug was close to completing the move to AC Milan. The transfer is expected to be completed before Christmas, providing Milan with a new attacking option heading into the demanding second half of the season.
The structure of the deal is fairly straightforward. It’s a loan with an option to buy, set between €13 and €14 million, and the clause is not mandatory. Milan won’t pay any loan fee at all, but they will take on the full wages of the German striker.
Füllkrug has already agreed to the move and is getting ready to fly to Milan for his medical checks. Although he cannot be officially registered until January 2, he is allowed to train straight away and should join the squad by the end of December 2025.
The striker had interest from two Bundesliga clubs, but he chose Milan without much hesitation. He’s even accepted a smaller financial package to make the move happen, which doesn’t happen often these days.
His club form in England has been poor. Signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2024 for £27 million €30m, he scored just once in 18 appearances and never really settled.
West Ham are now left with only Callum Wilson as a senior striker while fighting relegation, which worries fans. Some are unhappy about the lack of an upfront fee, though the wage savings and buy option offer some relief.
For Milan, it’s a low-risk move with upside. Due to the poor form and uncertainty surrounding Gimenez’s career, for Füllkrug, it feels like one more chance to get things right, and maybe that’s enough.
