Nkunku Nears Leipzig Return as Milan Approve Loan With €28m Option

• Christopher Nkunku has completed the first part of his medical after returning to Leipzig
• RB Leipzig and AC Milan have agreed a loan worth €3m, with a €28m buying option included in the package
• Milan and RB Leipzig are splitting Nkunku’s salary 50/50, with the Frenchman reported to earn around €5m net per season

Deal Moves Forward After Milan Approval

Christopher Nkunku’s expected move from AC Milan back to RB Leipzig has advanced significantly, with the French forward now back in Leipzig and having completed the first part of his medical. The transfer is expected to be finalised soon, following Milan’s decision to sanction his departure.

🚨 Milan will cover 50% of Nkunku’s salary with RB Leipzig during his loan spell

[@FabrizioRomano] pic.twitter.com/Ps47LZKK8p

— Milan Eye (@MilanEye) August 25, 2026

Reports on Sunday stated that Milan and RB Leipzig had reached an agreement over both the valuation and structure of the deal. Nkunku enjoyed a productive four-year spell with the Bundesliga club between 2019 and 2023, and his return is now close to completion.

The latest terms put the operation at a €3m loan fee plus a €28m buying option. Earlier reporting had described slightly different figures, with Sky Sport Italia and Gianluca Di Marzio claiming the move would be a season-long loan costing €4m, with an option to buy for a further €28m. Other outlets had suggested a marginally lower loan fee and a slightly higher option, taking the total package beyond €30m. The updated figures now point to a €31m structure, while previous estimates had suggested Milan could recover up to €32m.

Financial Structure and Salary Split

Talks over the division of Nkunku’s wages continued through Sunday and Monday. His salary has been reported at around €5m net per season, and Milan and RB Leipzig are now splitting that 50/50 as part of the agreement.

Short Milan Spell After Chelsea Transfer

Nkunku has spent only one season with Milan, having joined the club from Chelsea for €37m plus bonuses. During the 2025-26 Serie A campaign, he produced seven goals and three assists in 32 appearances under Massimiliano Allegri.

Allegri was dismissed the day after the season ended and has since been replaced by Ruben Amorim in the San Siro dugout. Amorim has decided that Nkunku, Fikayo Tomori, Youssouf Fofana and Santiago Gimenez will not be part of his plans for the coming season.

All four players have not been assigned squad numbers for the 2026-27 campaign. They were also absent on Sunday evening, when Milan recorded a 2-1 away win against Torino.

Performance Data From Nkunku’s 2025-26 Serie A Season