In a strategic mid-season acquisition aimed at bolstering their title ambitions, AC Milan has officially confirmed the signing of German international striker Niclas Füllkrug on an initial loan deal from West Ham United. The storied Italian club, currently locked in a fierce battle for the Serie A summit, moved decisively to secure the 32-year-old forward’s services after securing medical clearance last week, introducing him as their new number nine for the remainder of the campaign with an embedded option to make the move permanent next summer.
The transfer brings to a close an underwhelming 18-month chapter in the Premier League for Füllkrug, who joined West Ham from Borussia Dortmund in a high-profile £27 million move in August 2024. His time in east London proved challenging, yielding only three goals in twenty-nine appearances across all competitions, with his last goal dating back to April of last year.
Despite a change in management at West Ham with the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo in September, Füllkrug failed to find the net or provide an assist in his limited opportunities this season, ultimately falling out of contention for the German national team under Julian Nagelsmann. In a heartfelt message to West Ham supporters on Instagram, Füllkrug acknowledged the difficult period, stating, “The past one and a half years didn’t go as I – and surely you all – had imagined. I want to thank you for your support, even when things weren’t always easy. There are truly special people at WHU, and I am very grateful for everyone I met”.
For Milan, the acquisition addresses an immediate and critical need in their attacking line. The Rossoneri, sitting just one point behind crosstown rivals Inter at the top of Serie A, were compelled to enter the market after their primary striker, Santiago Gimenez, required surgery for an ankle injury.
Füllkrug arrives as a proven, physical centre-forward with a distinguished career in the Bundesliga, a profile that manager Paulo Fonseca evidently deemed necessary for the second half of the season. The club’s official announcement welcomed the Hanover-born striker, highlighting his experience, including a UEFA Champions League final appearance with Borussia Dortmund in 2023, and his status as a German international who featured in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The deal is structured as a straightforward loan with a reported €5 million option to buy, a clause that is not mandatory, giving Milan significant flexibility to assess Füllkrug’s fit and impact before committing long-term.
Füllkrug’s career trajectory presents a fascinating case of resilience and late blooming. A product of Werder Bremen’s youth academy, he endured spells at several German clubs before truly flourishing upon his return to Bremen in 2019.
His subsequent €15 million transfer to Borussia Dortmund for the 2023-24 season demonstrated his top-level credentials, where he scored a respectable 15 goals and provided 10 assists in a single season, including three in the Champions League. It was this form that earned him his big move to the Premier League, a venture that unfortunately stalled.
Now, Milan offers a prestigious platform for redemption. The Italian top flight, with its historically strong emphasis on tactical structure and defensive discipline, may suit Füllkrug’s classic penalty-box presence and aerial ability more than the frenetic pace of England.
He joins a club with a legendary history of iconic number nines, and the chance to fire them to a first Scudetto since the 2021-22 season represents a monumental opportunity.
The context of this loan signing also subtly echoes a recurring theme in Milan’s modern transfer strategy: seeking value and immediate contribution from strikers who have faced recent adversity. The club’s handling of Portuguese forward André Silva half a decade ago serves as a distant parallel.
Signed for €38 million from Porto in 2017, Silva struggled to adapt to Serie A, scoring only two league goals in his debut season. Faced with increased competition following the arrival of Gonzalo Higuain, Milan loaned Silva to Sevilla in 2018, a move that included a purchase option.
Although that spell did not trigger a permanent deal, a subsequent loan to Eintracht Frankfurt proved transformative. Silva rediscovered his scoring touch in the Bundesliga, netting 16 goals in the 2019-20 season, which prompted Frankfurt to secure him permanently for a reported £9 million, a significant financial loss for Milan but a career revival for the player.
While the situations differ, Füllkrug is a seasoned veteran on a short-term deal, while Silva was a young investment, the principle of using a loan as a low-risk proving ground is a familiar one at the San Siro.
From West Ham’s perspective, allowing Füllkrug to depart makes pragmatic sense as the club, languishing in 18th place and four points from safety, looks to reshape its squad under Nuno Espirito Santo. The loan move clears a significant wage from the books and opens a squad space for potential reinforcements as they battle against relegation.