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AC Milan’s final signing for the attack in the 2025 summer transfer window came somewhat out of nowhere, as Christopher Nkunku arrived from Chelsea.
A number of different forwards were linked with Milan during the mercato from Victor Boniface (who failed a medical in the end) to Dusan Vlahovic. However, the Nkunku story came about very quickly, as did the acceleration towards the completion of a deal that will be worth over €30m.
The Rossoneri will pay €35m plus bonuses as per widespread reports, which represents a sizeable investment. A few days ago, the signing was made official by the club and it was also confirmed that the Frenchman has put pen to paper on a long-term deal.
Nkunku follows the likes of Fikayo Tomori, Olivier Giroud, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic in swapping Stamford Bridge for San Siro, but just what can fans expect from the newest attacking addition?
Back story
Nkunku’s football career started very early on. Of course, it is nothing new for players to start early at a pro level; however, the Frenchman was part of a club at just six years old, and he stayed with AS Marolles, a district team, until 2009.
It was this move to Fontainebleau where things really started to accelerate, as Sofoot (via the Wayback Machine) stated in 2020. At 12, an age where others start to succumb to the pressure of potentially being a pro, Nkunku flew.
Even in 2020, as Sofoot relayed, Norbert Boj, the former head of the Fontainebleau academy, had compliments to give to the youngster’s game, 11 years after he joined, 10 years after he left.
“His speed, his technique and his vision of the game, he had something more than the others, he never gave up.”
These comments were not just held by Boj; instead, Nkunku’s ability was seen by everyone, as another coach from Fontainebleau stated, relayed by the same Sofoot piece.
“Disciplined and hardworking, his technical ability, obviously, but also, especially, his intelligence of play. We already had a great team, but he really stood out.”
Clubs began to take note of this young talent taking over France, and there was a lot of interest already present in the Frenchman, who would only be a teenager at this point. Though the flattery of interest could have easily become the nightmare of rejection.
As the coach relayed, ‘many clubs rejected him because he was too small’, but ‘he never doubted’ with those around the club stating that he had ‘big ambitions’ even as a youngster, in a general sense, disregarding the football element of things.
Then came the reason to trust the process. Along came Paris Saint-Germain in 2010, and they were quickly convinced that he could be one of the Nation’s next big stars, to add to their already impressive roster of talent.
The move was a dream for Nkunku, as Le Parisien reported in 2015 (via the Wayback Machine), and within his first years of the move, he became heavily regarded as a star in the making.
Before his 18th birthday, the youngster was already commonly seen around the first team squad, and had dreams of ‘showing that I’m capable of doing even more’. Additionally, the chance to be around stars, including his idol Marco Verratti, was only a benefit.
In 2015, Laurent Blanc, who was the PSG head coach at the time, stated that Nkunku was making positive noise within the ranks, with him even being considered for a senior position.
“We took him, but few people knew him. We did, because we saw him play last season. He’s interesting and very young. However, he’s not yet trained and not ready to prepare for a season in Ligue 1. But we’re going to make him work. That’s PSG’s role, it’s his training club, it’s his club.”
His first season for PSG was the 2015/16 season, where he spent the majority of his time with the youth team. In that season, the Parisiens finished runners-up to Chelsea in the UEFA Youth League, where he impressed, getting the second-highest assist tally in the tournament.
That same season, Blanc also offered Nkunku his senior debut at 18 years and 24 days old. It was only a few minutes in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk, but it was something nonetheless.
The teenager only played 27 times for the B team, with his talent being preferred for the senior team on a regular basis, with Nkunku making five then eight appearances, before reaching the 20 milestone in the 2017/18 season.
His performances continued to gain praise from inside and outside the club, in 2017, Sports Illustrated named him in a ‘Top 20 Under 20: The world’s best rising stars’ piece, where he was listed as ‘one of the gems’ emerging from the PSG Academy, whilst words from Unai Emery, the coach of the French giants at the time, were also attached.
“We [PSG] are very pleased with him. He’s a listener. It’s very important. He does and listens to everything we say, and he has the qualities to go with that. He deserves his chance in the team and can progress.”
That year, he scored four times in 622 minutes in Ligue 1, and things only continued to grow from that point onwards. In the following season, his minutes almost doubled as he reached more than 1,100 minutes across 22 Ligue 1 games, scoring three times and assisting twice; however, that would be the end of the road for his time in France.
A lot of the second half of that season was spent on the bench, and RB Leipzig decided to make a move for Nkunku, clearly seeing that he was a major talent.
Upon signing, in a deal which made him the fifth most expensive signing for the club at the time, Markus Kroesche spoke, via the RB Leipzig X account.
“Nkunku fits very well into our requirements profile with his skills. We are delighted that this highly talented offensive player has chosen us and are convinced that he will help us further with his qualities.”
He hit his highest point in Germany with Leipzig, becoming a regular starter and proving his ability was above that of a bench-warmer at PSG. In just four seasons in Germany, he registered 126 contributions in only 172 games, 70 of which were goals.
Without a doubt, his best year was the 2021/22 campaign, where he scored 20 goals with 16 assists, being named the Bundesliga Player of the Season and German PFA Player of the Season. Only a year later, he got his move to England, with Leipzig making a superb profit on the Frenchman, who was now 25.
In his announcement, words from Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, were attached.
“Christopher has proved himself one of the standout attacking players in European football over the past two seasons and will add quality, creativity and versatility to our squad. He has demonstrated his ability at the highest level with RB Leipzig and France.”
Leipzig trebled their investment, with the Blues paying €60m, a fee which they would only just get half of back from his move to Milan.
He scored 18 goals for the London outfit, whilst only playing around 2,800 minutes in Blue, a return which Chelsea would have hoped for more from. However, it is fair to say that Nkunku was a victim of their ruthless spending.
At an international level, little needs to be said. The Frenchman has played almost 40 times, across youth and senior level, though this is arguably in a position where Les Bleus are the most full, look at Kylian Mbappe, and so on. Nevertheless, he rose quickly, with only 10 years separating his Under-16 debut and his debut for the senior squad.
Strengths and weaknesses
Nkunku has undergone somewhat of a metamorphosis as a player over his career, starting as a wing-back at Paris Saint-Germain, then becoming more of a central midfielder before shifting to an attacking role after joining RB Leipzig.
It is with Leipzig that he showed his best attributes, becoming especially successful under Julian Nagelsmann, which then ended up earning him a switch to Chelsea where things have not gone as well.
Versatility: The first thing to point out – and as the aforementioned hints at – is the versatility that Nkunku offers. The 27-year-old has played a wide range of positions in nearly all corners of the pitch.
According to Transfermarkt, in his 172 games for RB Leipzig (with 70 goals and 56 assists in that time), he played as a second striker (55 times), attacking midfielder (48), left winger (22), right winger (12) and a few games as a striker, left wing-back, central midfielder and right wing-back.
Instantly, what springs to mind is the notion that Nkunku would be best playing either in a front two alongside someone who is a more recognised striker, or as a player behind a striker in a 3-4-2-1 or a 4-2-3-1 system.
Leading the line is not his forte, which raises question marks about the vision and the declaration from Igli Tare that a proper striker was wanted, but he has operated as a false nine in his career when needed.
Movement: Milan have often struggled to break down low blocks in recent years, and Nkunku could in theory be a great antidote to that. His strength is finding the action areas, and operating in pockets of space that he spots or sometimes even helps create himself.
The word to describe the ex-PSG man is probably ‘dynamic’ when it comes to in-possession play. He can run channels or drop deep to receive the ball, he can spin a man and/or burst away with the ball at his feet, and he looks to be the key that picks the lock.
He does not have the same top speed in the open field like Rafael Leao, but his acceleration over short spaces is a real asset, as are his long levers when he does actively get into stride and into space.
Nkunku first goal against Barrow pic.twitter.com/2OujxtYgT7
— Allwell Daniel (@allwell_CFC) August 28, 2025
Intelligence: In the often-chaotic Bundesliga, forwards often don’t have to show elite footballing IQ to be able to score goals in abundance. However, Nkunku refined his game in Germany to become somewhat of a multi-tooled threat.
His smart movement is one thing already mentioned, but the Frenchman is one of those players who seems to already be aware where team-mates are before receiving the ball. He can switch play quickly to generate transitions, and can spot passes behind the lines that others might not see.
Pressing: The style of football he played in under Nagelsmann (and subsequent coaches) at Leipzig also means he knows how to operate in a high press. Whether cutting passing lanes or pressuring the ball carrier, Nkunku has been known to generate high turnovers which can then be profited from.
What Milan should have – if indeed Leao and Christian Pulisic are involved in a three-pronged attack – is three willing and athletic runners to lead the charge from the front. This is an added weapon for Allegri tactically, and can become the first line of defence.
Idk if anyone set up like this before but I liked. Nkunku pressing CBs from semi-behind https://t.co/L225v8dXjr pic.twitter.com/rmB7WZaTh3
— ┘ (@zealoftruth) July 23, 2023
Two-footedness: As his position map shows, Nkunku has no problem using both feet while in possession. He is naturally right-footed and prefers to shift onto that when coming in off the left flank, but also has no problem using his left foot too.
Given that Milan’s other forwards are quite one-footed (Leao almost always cuts in, Santiago Gimenez is very left-footed and Pulisic tends to use his left as well), this could be a very important option and aids positional fluidity.
Footwork: As eluded to above, Nkunku’s technical ability is something that seems to have improved over time too. With great close control and sharp movements in his dribbling, the Lagny-sur-Marne-born forward combines athleticism with refined control.
Not only that, but he also has a knack for the remarkable. Nkunku has skill moves in his locker such as spins, step-overs and even the occasional overhead kick which could make him as unpredictable as Leao when it comes to getting on the ball and creating danger.
Just a glimpse of Nkunku’s skill and ability to get you excited about his first Chelsea game later today. 👀⚡️
Peep the no look pass as well. 🔥 https://t.co/AJEaR7FeEa pic.twitter.com/4xDpBhog5j
— London Is Blue Podcast ⭐️⭐️ (@LondonBluePod) July 19, 2023
Set-pieces: Although being on dead ball situations has taken somewhat of a back seat during his time with Chelsea, Nkunku is able to take free-kicks and put them into good areas.
Not only that, but he has taken 12 penalties in competitive games in his senior career and has scored 10 of them. While not perfect, given the Rossoneri’s struggles from the spot it could be good to have another candidate to take them.
Size: Although only 1.77m tall, Nkunku is an imposing physical presence on the field. This has its advantages, such as being able to keep hold of possession during duels by rolling defenders or simply holding them off with his frame.
It also means that when dribbles do not come off quite the way he hopes (Nkunku is not Lionel Messi with the ball at his feet and sometimes can look quite clunky), he can simply jostle through without committing fouls, just by applying physical pressure.
This is why I say, movement and interpretation of space is crucial in Football.
Renato Veiga run pulls one CB and João Félix positioning occupies the other which opens up the space between Centre Backs for Nkunku to exploit.
Off ball movement is key.pic.twitter.com/Dk3vIt0KnD
— António Mango (@AntonioMango4) September 16, 2024
Combination play: On the previous subject of breaking down deep blocks, Christopher Nkunku is often proficient when it comes to linking up with team-mates for quick one-twos and triangles. Fast movement of the ball is the best way to draw defenders and get behind a low block.
Instantly, what springs to mind is the possibility of him and Leao really gelling down the left channel, playing off each other to strike fear into defenders because they simply do not know who to prioritise guarding. A lot, though, will depend on who starts up front, or if it is indeed a fluid two/three.
People describe Nkunku like he’s some fox in the box type player . Wanting Nkunku CF is equivalent to wanting salah CF.
Arguably our most well rounded attacker skill set wise. The off ball factor he possesses to https://t.co/vgEaZuGH0B pic.twitter.com/dJnpUX83cT
— . (@forzabbbb) August 5, 2024
Nkunku is getting at least 15 goals in all competitions next season ⚡️
— Erm (@CFCErm) June 5, 2023
Over-thinking: Now we move onto the weaknesses, starting with what we might call ‘Tammy Abrahamism’. Just as the English striker often paradoxically struggled most when he had time to pick his spot because he was in space or through 1v1, the same applies to Nkunku.
The Frenchman is more of a snapshot finishing, going for power and quick execution rather than more cultured finishing. This certainly has its advantages, especially in games where there is little space, but can also lead to frustrating missed chances.
Thank you for the memories Christopher NkuNku, and good luck in Milan 💙
The streets will never forget this goal 🥶
— Peter Not Drury ₿ (@PeterNotDrury) August 28, 2025
Isolation: Again with respect to space being available, Nkunku has generally struggled when double teamed in a wide area. We have seen this happen to Leao too: with Milan being a one-sided threat for quite a while, it was easy to pin an extra man on the Portuguese to close off a lane to goal.
The hope is that combination play can ensure neither are left with two defenders in front of them and nobody to pass to/nowhere to go. Building quick chemistry and cohesion can help this, and can Pulisic’s central movements to occupy an extra defender, with Saelemaekers pushing up the right.
Pressing: We had mentioned this point as a positive, but it is also important to point out the aspect he has to work on which is the intensity and direction of the press. In essence, Nkunku can sometimes be guilty of being a bit gung-ho and reckless when the press is triggered.
Not only does this mean that he exerts a lot of wasted energy when running at the passer wildly, but it means he moves out of blocking a lane and this can often provide the team in possession with an out-ball and a way to breach the press. It is something to fine-tune, especially in a more tactical league like Serie A.
Injuries: Now we come to the elephant in the room, one which many believe is what the entire investment hinges on. The consensus is that Christopher can be a very important player for Milan, if he can stay fit.
As Transfermarkt record, the issues began in the 2022-23 season with Leipzig, when he missed 22 games in total due to a wrist issue, a torn knee ligament and a torn muscle fibre. It effectively kept him out for half of the season across two length spells out.
Then, 2023-24 was even worse: Nkunku missed 48 games for club and country due to another knee issue, fitness problems, a hip injury and then a bad hamstring tear.
The positive news is that last season he only missed the final part of the campaign (late April to late May, six games) due to a knock, so did seem to turn a corner in that sense.
Statistical comparison
Starting with a basic metric, we can look at where Nkunku’s goals have come from. Given the Premier League is probably more similar to Serie A than the Bundesliga because of the limited space, it makes more sense to examine his 18 goals for the Blues.
What is striking is that almost all came down the middle. He played 30 times as a centre-forward and netted nine goals, while he scored an impressive seven goals (plus three assists) in 13 games as an attacking midfielder.
When playing on the left flank – which he did on 14 occasions – the new Milan signing scored just twice, which lends to the above point about sometimes being isolated out wide.
As MindTheFootball write, Nkunku was mostly used in the Conference League last season by Chelsea. However, his per90 data offers a lot of encouragement. Over 921 minutes in the last 365 days (Men’s top five leagues, not including Conference League):
➤ Non-penalty xG: 0.47 p90 (97th percentile) – elite shot quality and penalty-box positioning.
➤ npxG/Shot: 0.19 p90 (98th percentile) – consistently taking high-value shots.
➤ Pass Completion: 89.5% p90 (99th percentile) – secure retention in congested attacking zones.
➤ Shot-Creating Actions (SCA): 3.32 p90 – room for growth in a high-possession Bayern side.
➤ Key Passes: 1.37 p90 – creative output likely to rise with better supporting structure.
➤ Progressive Passes Received: 6.65 p90 – finds pockets between lines to receive under pressure.
➤ Touches in Attacking Penalty Area: 5.08 p90 – consistent box presence.
➤ Interceptions: 0.68 p90 (85th percentile) – strong defensive contribution for an advanced player.
So, what kind of player did Milan sign exactly based on the numbers? Massimiliano Allegri’s comments might have summed things up best when he spoke after the win over Lecce.
“I don’t know how I’ll be able to use him. He’s a very high-quality player, and I think we already have excellent players up front, and the important thing is to find the right balance with them.”
Looking at a comparison with two of Milan’s rumoured summer striker targets, Nkunku ranks lower in goal output than Dusan Vlahovic and Boniface, taking less touches inside the box but making up for it with higher creativity and a solid chance-conversion rate.
In terms of another left-sided forward that has excelled in Serie A, Ademola Lookman springs to mind and he ranks higher in virtually every category, albeit with a bigger sample size of minutes available and for a free-scoring team that was engineered to put him in the best conditions.
TFA write the following: “Compared to other Premier League centre-forwards, Nkunku leads in touches, completed passes, and forward passing accuracy (91%). This demonstrates his combinational style and comfort on the ball, allowing him to direct play through quick passes and agile movement.
“He also excels in shots on goal and expected assists, often operating at the edge of the box as a playmaker. One of his key strengths is striking from distance, an especially valuable asset in Serie A, where teams often maintain low defensive lines.”
Looking at the heat map provided by Total Football Analysis, we can see how Nkunku operates in a similar way to how you might expect Leao to. He generally hugs the left side, but with a tendency to frequently drift infield when the game/attacking moves dictate to.
Transfer rating
This is a deal that certainly has the potential to become a big success, much like the signing of another estranged forward in Pulisic ended up giving life to Milan’s attack. Nkunku on his day is a game-changer and a match-winner, and he can become that with the Rossoneri again.
However, it is dependent on a lot of things going right. Firstly he must be fit and available, then Allegri must settle on a system and a role from him, and thirdly the Frenchman has to build a quick understanding with team-mates while adapting to a new league.
Given the various natural centre-forwards that Milan were linked with, this deal carries a bit more risk than signing someone like Vlahovic. That being said, the potential upside is there to make this worth every penny.
Transfer rating: 6.5/10
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