AC Milan Set to Secure Samuel Chukwueze Transfer from Villarreal Today
AC Milan is set to finalize the signing of Super Eagles forward, Samuel Chukwueze, from Villarreal in a highly anticipated transfer deal worth approximately €28 million. This exciting update was shared by prominent Italian journalist, Fabrizio Romano, during the early hours of Tuesday.
According to Romano’s tweet, the deal has been in place since Monday, with AC Milan agreeing to pay €20 million upfront, along with an additional €8 million in add-ons to Villarreal. Chukwueze is expected to arrive in Milano around 1 pm today to complete the formalities of the transfer. As part of a separate agreement, Italian center-back Matteo Gabbia will be heading to Villarreal on loan from AC Milan.
The transfer negotiations between Villarreal and Milan successfully concluded last week, and the clubs exchanged the necessary documents to finalize the deal on Monday night. The 24-year-old Chukwueze is scheduled to undergo a medical examination this week, after which he will sign a five-year contract with AC Milan at the illustrious San Siro Stadium.
Former Nigerian international, Sam Sodje, has expressed confidence in Chukwueze’s abilities to handle the pressure that comes with playing for a prestigious club like Milan.
Once the signing is complete, Chukwueze will join the ranks of esteemed Nigerian footballers who have donned the iconic red and black jersey of AC Milan in the past. These players include Taye Taiwo, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Kingsley Umunegbu, Taribo West, and Aliyu Datti.
In a recent interview on Tuesday, Sam Sodje expressed his pride that a player from the Nigerian national team would be joining the prestigious ranks of AC Milan, a seven-time UEFA Champions League winner. The 44-year-old former defender acknowledged that playing for such a renowned club comes with significant challenges and expectations, but he remains optimistic about Samuel Chukwueze’s ability to handle the pressure.
During the interview on Brila FM, Sodje emphasized the significance of having a Nigerian representative at AC Milan, believing that it will draw more attention to the national team. However, he also pointed out that playing for a top-tier club like AC Milan means dealing with higher expectations and greater pressure to perform consistently.
Sodje compared the experience of playing for a giant club like Chelsea or Manchester United, where the expectation is to win every game, to that of a smaller club like Fulham. He acknowledged that AC Milan’s standards are set very high, and they are expected to secure victories regularly.
Despite the challenges, Sodje expressed confidence in Chukwueze’s abilities to adapt and thrive. He highlighted Chukwueze’s impressive performances in the yellow and yellow jersey of Villarreal last season, where he scored 13 goals and provided 11 assists, making it the best season of his career so far.
Chukwueze’s journey with Villarreal began in 2018 when he was promoted to the senior team. Since then, he has made 207 appearances across all competitions, scoring 37 goals.
As the young Nigerian forward prepares to make the move to AC Milan, many are eagerly anticipating his performances and how he will fare in the challenging environment of one of the world’s top clubs.
