The 2023 summer window has officially closed and AC Milan managed to complete a total of ten operations, including the deadline-day signing of Luka Jovic.
Below is a summary of Milan’s incoming summer window with all the details and figures, taken from our Substack bonus. Make sure to check that out if you want a more extensive financial breakdown of the summer.
Marco Sportiello
Deal: Free transfer.
From: Atalanta.
Position: Goalkeeper.
Once Milan decided to not renew the contract of Ciprian Tatarusanu, they turned to the market to find a new backup goalkeeper. They reached an agreement with Sportiello already in January and the move was completed at the end of his contract.
Luka Romero
Deal: Free transfer.
From: Lazio.
Position: Attacking midfielder/winger.
This move came as a surprise, really, but Milan had been keeping their eye on the 18-year-old for quite some time. Having done well with Argentina’s U20 side, and sitting on an expiring contract, he was picked up by the Rossoneri.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Deal: Permanent transfer.
Fee: €16m plus €4m in bonuses.
From: Chelsea.
Position: Midfielder.
The 27-year-old appeared to be more or less a done deal but then Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara were sacked. The new management eventually picked up the negotiations and closed the deal at the expected figures. A much-needed signing for the midfield.
Christian Pulisic
Deal: Permanent transfer.
Fee: €20m plus €3m in bonuses.
From: Chelsea.
Position: Attacking midfielder/winger.
The negotiations were a bit more difficult compared to the other Chelsea midfielder but Milan eventually got the deal over the line. So far, the 24-year-old has done a really good job and the Rossoneri can be very happy with the signing – especially at that price.
Tijjani Reijnders
Deal: Permanent transfer.
Fee: €20m plus €5m in bonuses.
From: AZ Alkmaar.
Position: Midfielder.
Speaking of long negotiations, Milan really had to fight for the Dutchman’s arrival. He was worth the wait, it’s safe to say, and the Rossoneri still managed to get the 25-year-old at a very good price as well.
Noah Okafor
Deal: Permanent transfer.
Fee: €14m.
From: RB Salzburg.
Position: Left-winger/forward.
The transfer was completed in just a few days and Milan got him at an absolute bargain price as well. The 23-year-old can play both as a left-winger and a forward and he will surely come into good use for Pioli this season.
Samuel Chukwueze
Deal: Permanent transfer.
Fee: €20m plus €8m in bonuses.
From: Villarreal.
Position: Right-winger.
The most expensive signing this summer, at least if we’re including the bonuses, and the 24-year-old thus has some hype to live up to. Milan fans know better than to take anything for granted after the De Ketelaere ordeal, though.
Yunus Musah
Deal: Permanent transfer.
Fee: €18m plus €3m in bonuses.
From: Valencia.
Position: Midfielder.
This is another signing that Milan spent a lot of time on and they managed to break down Valencia in the negotiations. The 20-year-old has a lot of potential and it remains to be seen if the Rossoneri are right for him.
Marco Pellegrino
Deal: Permanent transfer.
Fee: €3m plus €2m in bonuses.
From: Platense.
Position: Centre-back.
Given the departure of Matteo Gabbia on loan to Villarreal, Milan needed a centre-back and the scouts pished for the arrival of Pellegrino. The 21-year-old is highly rated and could perhaps become an important player in the future.
Luka Jovic
Deal: One-year deal with an option.
Fee: –
From: Fiorentina.
Position: Striker.
The Serbian ended up being the deadline-day signing for Milan, who accelerated their pursuit after failing to sign their other targets for the No.9 role. It looks like it will be a one-year contract with an option for an additional 1-2 years.
I did say I’d wait till the end of the Mercato. Considering where we were to now, it has been a rollercoaster. From the way in which the firing of Maldini and Massara went I did not like at all as I’m a huge fan of Maldini as a player and supported him as a director as he’s relatable to the history of Milan. His accomplishments as one were great (3 UCL finishes, a Scudetto and a UCL semi). He made great signings and helped restored the meaning of Milan and the value of our history back into many of the current players. However, there were some dubious choices and not to mention his vision for where the team should be and how it should progress which was ultimately his downfall. It was clear that it conflicted with the owner’s vision. And so the difficult choice had to be made. I will miss him and I think he did well considering the parameters he worked with.
However, we have a new management now and I was very skeptical at first especially given the sack of a beloved name..But management must be given credit for stabilizing and steadying the ship. They are still a work in progress but they’ve done well overall even if i initially disagreed with some of the signings or was critical of some mostly due to injury prone history. I wasn’t expecting the team to gel so well given the number of new players but it’s still early days and I can see what their vision was about NOW. They really should have communicated better which was what I’ve been saying. They have addressed certain areas like the RW but also left wanting in a couple others like the DM and striker. In time I believe they will do the job and make a complete team. I’m giving them an 7.5-8/10. The team is different and the formation is different so it’s difficult to say whether we improved on depth. If we were still playing the 4231 then no, but with the 433 we have the players for it except of course a proper DM. Anyways that’s my take. All the best for the new season. I’ll stick with my choices for now for the predictions but will update after rd8 😁
Too much talk, get one peace off
I agree with you, losing Maldini came to us as a surprise. I was skeptical as well when all those issues happened, but decided to wait and see how they perform in the Mercado before taking my decision.
Overall, they did well and deserve to be given a chance to prove their mission right. Moreover, in the case of DM don’t forget that Benecer will soon rejoin the team. We shall see how we fare by the end of the year. //
I think people know my views and the first 3 games don’t really tell us anything.
It’s been the most disruptive transfer window I’ve ever seen.
In the backroom it’s not just Maldini and Massara. Nearly every day we read about someone leaving the room staff. There’s about 10 changes there alone.
We’ve lost at least two hugely influential players in Tonali and Ibra: the former was completely avoidable; the latter was not.
Having sold Tonali for a fortune we did the worst possible thing with the money and went to town signing numerous players. It’s still very unclear to me how any of it fits together.
Why did we sign 3 RWs?
Why did we sign 3 CMs?
Why did we sign a random defender?
Why did leave signing a striker to the last minute?
Why do we only have 8 of the Scudetto winners left in the squad after just over a year?
This is all off the back of a season where the team met expectations in the league and far surpassed them in the Champions League.
It’s absolute madness.
It might work. Pioli is one of the top managers in Serie A. He’s 1/3 current Serie A managers to win the Scudetto.
He’s done a good of keeping a consistent line up.
The big question will be what happens once he starts rotating. The squad seems too big and given his tendency to rotate too much last season, I’m concerned with this new found ‘depth’ we’ll be rotating 5-6 players once we get into the champions league games.
Jovic is a striker. I’ve no idea how he’ll do. He could score 30, he could score 3.
That’s football.
It’s unpredictable.
But what we do know for a fact was that many of the players we let go had delivered, consistently over 3-4 seasons. Yes we needed improvement in areas – but nearly 50% of the squad?
Now in terms of season expectations I’d split them into three groups:
– for the directors who are primarily responsible for dismantling a title winning side and engaging in wholesale changes, the minimum has to be top 2 in Serie A, later stages of the champions league and at least a trophy which can be the Copa Italia.
– for Pioli who is partly responsible for failing to make the most of the squad last season and for having a role in this revolution, top 4 finish in Serie A, knock out stages of the champions league and I’m not expecting silverware;
– for the players who had no part in this, top 6 in Serie A and a good showing in the group stages of the champions league.
What I mean by ‘minimum expectations’ is that if these expectations are not met I will be calling for heads.
I will only criticise the players if they fail in the above expectations.
I’m very concerned that a combination of the massive turnover and unrealistic expectations could result in further turnover. If we experience a period like we did in January Pioli could well be sacked. If we fail to finish in the top 4 or even do, we’ll see a repeat of this summer with some star player sold to fund further wholesale changes.
If that does happen then the team of 21/22 will be a distant memory, and the project will be at an end with more years of chaos.
Therefore probably more than many of my critics on here I am hoping that I’m wrong. The stakes are too high if I’m right.
Correction there’s 12 of the Scudetto winners left. Less than 50%. From a squad that was capable of wining the Scudetto as evidenced by the fact it did in fact with the Scudetto.
Can’t wait to see how JOVIC plays in seria A and UCL group 😀 whether he will find his greatest again.
The best piece of business is still getting rid of origi and fado,,
The best signing for me is rlc, he added that muscle we need, i like how he bullied opponent so far,,
8 of 10 for this window
Fadod and Origig are both on loan, like caldara couple years ago