Christian Pulisic Completes Transfer to AC Milan in €22 Million Deal
Christian Pulisic, the talented midfielder for the US Men’s National Team (USMNT), has finalized his move to AC Milan from Chelsea in a transfer deal worth up to €22 million ($24.2 million, £18.8 million). The initial fee is set at €20 million, with an additional €2 million in potential add-ons. The agreement also includes a significant sell-on clause in the event of a future transfer. Pulisic has signed a four-year contract with Milan, with the option for a fifth year.
Milan had previously made a bid of $15.3 million for Pulisic, but their second offer of up to €22 million was accepted. The 24-year-old midfielder, who will wear the No. 11 shirt at Milan, decided to leave Chelsea due to his struggle to secure a regular place in the team and his desire for consistent playing time ahead of crucial upcoming years for the USMNT.
The transfer to Milan strengthens the relationship between Chelsea and Milan, as several players have made the move between the two clubs in recent years. Olivier Giroud, Fikayo Tomori, Tiemoue Bakayoko, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have all joined Milan from Chelsea. Loftus-Cheek’s arrival this transfer window means that Milan has filled one of their two non-EU registration slots for the upcoming season. Pulisic, however, does not count towards the second slot as he holds a Croatian passport.
During the 2022-23 season, Pulisic made only eight Premier League starts for Chelsea. He joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in January 2019 for £58 million ($63.6 million) but remained on loan in Germany for the rest of that season. Pulisic was part of Chelsea’s Champions League-winning squad in the 2020-21 season and scored in the first leg of the semi-final against Real Madrid.
Despite his struggles at the club level, Pulisic remains a crucial player for the USMNT, with 60 international caps and 25 goals for his country. He started all four of the USMNT’s matches at the 2022 World Cup and was named the player of the match in two of the team’s three group-stage fixtures. Pulisic finished the tournament with a goal and two assists in four appearances. He was also named the player of the tournament at the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals, where the USMNT defeated Canada in the final to lift the trophy. This victory marked his second successive Nations League triumph.
This move to AC Milan is expected to be a significant boost to Pulisic’s club career after a disappointing few years at Chelsea. While he has consistently performed well for the USMNT on the international stage, Pulisic has faced challenges finding his place in the Chelsea squad. The hope is that playing under a coach who values him and wants to highlight his abilities at Milan will elevate Pulisic’s game to an even higher level, benefiting both him and the USMNT as they prepare for the 2024 Copa America and the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States.
Milan is acquiring a highly talented attacker in Pulisic, who, at only 24 years old, still has immense potential. The transfer fee allows Milan room to increase his resale value in a more favorable environment. For Pulisic, this move represents an opportunity to reignite his club career after two years of limited playing time at Chelsea. Milan, a team that won the Serie A title in 2021-22 and reached the Champions League semi-finals last season, provides Pulisic with the chance to play under a coach who truly wants and values him, something that was lacking during his time at Chelsea. This positive environment should also benefit the USMNT, as a confident and happy Pulisic will be crucial for their upcoming campaigns, including the 2024 Copa America and the 2026 World Cup.
Pulisic’s time at Chelsea was marked by inconsistent playing time and struggles to recapture his early form. Despite his impressive performances at the 2019-20 World Cup in Qatar, where he justified the hype surrounding him as the face of American soccer, Pulisic failed to maintain that level of play. Some of the antipathy towards him from the Chelsea fanbase may stem from his perceived criticism of former head coach Thomas Tuchel in his 2022 book. Additionally, frustration may have arisen from the high expectations placed on him as the American soccer icon. However, this move to Milan provides Pulisic with a fresh start and an opportunity to prove himself once again.
In conclusion, Christian Pulisic’s transfer to AC Milan in a €22 million deal is expected to be a significant boost to his club career and the USMNT. Milan is acquiring a talented attacker who still has immense potential, while Pulisic will have the chance to play under a coach who values him and wants to highlight his abilities. This move comes after a few disappointing years at Chelsea, where Pulisic struggled to secure regular playing time. With the 2024 Copa America and the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, this transfer could elevate Pulisic’s game and benefit both him and the USMNT in their upcoming campaigns.