In an official announcement, it has been confirmed that USA forward Christian Pulisic has successfully finalized his £20m move from Chelsea to Italian club AC Milan. The 24-year-old footballer has signed a four-year contract with the Serie A side, which includes the option of extending for another year.
During his time at Chelsea, Pulisic showcased his skills by netting 26 goals in 145 games, including his participation in the victorious 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City. However, as opportunities diminished for him at Stamford Bridge, he found himself surplus to requirements, resulting in just one goal scored in his final season.
Expressing his thoughts at a news conference held for his unveiling, Pulisic acknowledged the challenges he faced at Chelsea, stating, “It was a difficult last few seasons with Chelsea. For whatever reason, I wasn’t getting the opportunities I wanted.” He further added, “For me, it’s a brilliant opportunity to step away, get a fresh start, and play for a big team like this.”
Chelsea officially confirmed Pulisic’s departure through a statement, expressing their well wishes for him and acknowledging his contributions during his time at the club.
Pulisic initially joined Chelsea in 2019 from Borussia Dortmund in a notable £57.6m transfer, which made him the most expensive player from North America at the time. Additionally, he has earned 60 caps while representing his country on the international stage.
The move to AC Milan reunites Pulisic with former Chelsea teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who also made the switch to Milan this summer.
As part of their summer restructuring, Chelsea has seen the departure of several established first-team players, including transfers of Kai Havertz to Arsenal, Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City, and Mason Mount to Manchester United. Other notable exits include Cesar Azpilicueta’s move to Atletico Madrid on a free transfer, while Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, and N’Golo Kante have joined Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad respectively in the Saudi Pro League.