Kyle Walker’s eight-year stint at Manchester City has officially come to an end, as the England international completes a 12-month loan move to Serie A giants AC Milan. The 34-year-old right-back, who captained City to numerous successes, including six Premier League titles, will now look to take on a new challenge in Italy.
Walker had been considering his future at the Etihad Stadium for some time and, in January, informed City of his desire to explore opportunities abroad. Initially, Walker was poised to join city rivals Inter Milan, but talks broke down over wage disputes. In the end, AC Milan secured his signature, agreeing to cover most of his £150,000 weekly salary, as part of a deal that sees Walker continue his career in one of Europe’s most prestigious leagues.
Sources close to the deal revealed that Walker is “excited about the future” and is eager to wear the famous AC Milan shirt. He is expected to arrive in Italy shortly to finalize the transfer and join his new teammates.
Walker’s departure marks the end of a remarkable chapter at Manchester City. Since joining from Tottenham in 2017 for £50 million, he has played a pivotal role in the club’s success, amassing an impressive 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, and the coveted Champions League. His presence on the right flank has been crucial to City’s dominance in English football, and his leadership was key to their treble-winning season.
Despite rejecting lucrative offers from the Saudi Arabian Pro League, Walker’s decision to move to Milan allows him to keep his England career alive. With 93 caps to his name, the defender is determined to become the first black player to reach 100 caps for the national team, and he sees playing in Italy as a way to maintain his chances of selection for the upcoming World Cup.
Walker’s departure also coincides with AC Milan’s interest in Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, with Serie A regulations limiting teams to signing just one British player per year. As a result, Milan’s pursuit of Rashford is now over, as Walker’s move effectively closes the door on the England forward joining the Italian club.
For Walker, this loan move to AC Milan represents not only a new chapter in his career but also an opportunity to pursue more international recognition and further cement his legacy in football.
