Promise, invisibility and searching: How Milan’s loanees are faring in the 2026/27 season so far
With it being the international break, it gives us a chance to look away from AC Milan for a little bit and we’re taking that literally.
It’s been a solid start to the season so far, even if it does feel a bit strange to say as much – and it’s something which Isak covered brilliantly in the latest Substack bonus article. Milan are unbeaten in the league with three wins and two draws.
So, with the positivity (and we cannot forget the negativity) around the Rossoneri, there’s not really been a chance for a break, nor has there been the chance to get one. With this, it’s also been difficult to take a proper look at the loanees and how they’re doing.
This week, then, offers the perfect opportunity. It’s the lull between the season stopping and starting back again, so here we go.
Christopher Nkunku – RB Leipzig
Nkunku’s return to Germany has been nothing short of fantastic for him so far. He’s scored once and got an assist in less than 250 minutes, a stat made more impressive by the fact that he’s only started twice.
Already, the decision to loan him out feels like a frustrating one, considering what he was replaced with and the lack of output so far. Even if he were to have departed, the buy option inserted into the deal feels like it’s a given to be activated.
At €28 million, he’d be leaving the Diavolo for €3m more than Leipzig’s most expensive signing of the summer – a 24-year-old defender from the Championship – and he’d sit ninth in the club’s record arrivals of all time.
With how the mercato was in the summer, the figure felt low before and after his first few games; it definitely does now.
Samuele Ricci – Como
Things for Ricci haven’t been so smooth; it’s fair to say. He’s played 65 minutes in the league and has played nine minutes in the Champions League. In other words, it looks like a signing made to help with the squad – as everyone thought it would be.
It was difficult to imagine him being a week-in, week-out starter for Como and this much has been proven. So, Milan have somewhat strengthened a rival and given them a gift with the UEFA registration rules without an obligation to buy the midfielder.
It feels like poor business again, even if his wages have been covered by I Lariani.
Youssouf Fofana – Sevilla
Fofana was somewhat scapegoated for Milan in large parts of last season, and maybe he was reviewed too harshly. Since his move to Spain, he’s averaged a 7/10 rating on Sofascore, which is above average.
Covering an average of 10.2km per game, the midfielder has seemingly refound himself and this showed with his goal last weekend – admitting that goalscoring comes naturally to him since then.
It is difficult to suggest that he’d not have a chance under Ruben Amorim this season, especially with the form which he’s found in Spain. With Sevilla not having an option to buy next summer, he must be reassessed next summer if this form continues.
Santiago Gimenez – Porto
Since the first few games of his Rossoneri career, Gimenez has been desperate to re-find the form that took him to Italy and the hope is that he’ll re-find that in Portugal this season. However, it’s not really been the case so far.
He’s played just 60 minutes this season, coming off the bench in all three games and whilst he’s scored, it was a penalty. So, it’s not like he’s really had to work for it.
What makes things a little more worrying is the fact that he was an unused substitute as Porto beat Benfica 3-1, and then that he was again unused as Mexico drew with Colombia on Sunday. It’s not even like he was overlooked for Jimenez or Quinonez; instead, it was for a seven-goal striker in the MLS.
Something really needs to click; if it doesn’t, the Diavolo are going to be left with a striker that was not even deemed worthy of an €18m investment.
Zachary Athekame – Lyon
It’s been a lot of negativity so far, but it might all be worth it for Athekame. So far, he’s having one of the best seasons in Europe for a right back and that cannot be denied. In fact, using Sofascore, he’s the highest-rated ‘right-defender’ in Europe’s top five leagues so far, with a Ligue 1 average of 7.72.
The 21-year-old has started all five games for Paulo Fonseca this season in the top flight. More impressively, he’s played every minute of each game too, proving that the Portuguese already has full faith in the Swiss.
With two goals and as many assists in five games, it’s difficult to see a reason to overlook him. Murat Yakin – the Swiss national team head coach – thought as much and his decision was proven right with Athekame providing two assists on his senior debut as well.
With a contribution per game so far, he might be the standout young defender in Europe so far and would certainly be worth more than the €10m paid in 2025. He’ll return to Milanello next summer and that is only a good thing.
The youngsters
It’s best to combine the youngsters into one package, given their lack of minutes. Starting with Andrej Kostic, he’s played just 45 minutes for Sparta Rotterdam across three games and averaged nine touches per game.
As stated on the most recent bonus podcast, the destination felt like a strange one for him and it’s seeming more questionable now.
David Odogu’s loan, on the other hand, made a lot more sense with the Toulouse-RedBird links. However, his time away isn’t going any better. In fact, it’s actually getting worse as he’s yet to see a minute on the pitch this season in Ligue 1.
It needs to change; if it doesn’t, it’ll be another year wasted for his development.
