Christopher Nkunku Completes First Medical Steps In Leipzig Return

Christopher Nkunku has taken his return to RB Leipzig a significant step further, completing the first part of his medical after AC Milan sanctioned the move.

The clubs have settled on a structure involving a €3m paid loan with a €28m option to make the move permanent, with only final details left to resolve.

Milan and Leipzig are also reported to be splitting Nkunku’s salary 50/50, with the forward earning around €5m net per season.

That distinction matters. Milan’s approval and the medical are significant steps, but full registration of the move is still pending.

Nkunku’s Milan Exit Fits A Wider Squad Clear-Out

Nkunku joined Milan from Chelsea in August 2025 for €37m plus bonuses, arriving with considerable expectation attached to his fee.

That expectation hasn’t been matched by his output in Serie A, and his position at the club had grown increasingly precarious even before this summer.

He managed seven goals and three assists in 32 Serie A appearances last season under Massimiliano Allegri, who was dismissed the day after the campaign ended and replaced by Ruben Amorim.

Nkunku isn’t the only player left out in the cold under the new regime.

Amorim has also excluded Fikayo Tomori, Youssouf Fofana and Santiago Giménez from his plans, and none of the four have been assigned a squad number for the 2026-27 season.

All four were absent when Milan won 2-1 away at Torino on the opening weekend of the season.

Why RB Leipzig Want Nkunku Back

Leipzig know what they’d be getting. Nkunku scored 70 goals in 172 appearances during his first spell at the club before moving to Chelsea, and a return to the Bundesliga has become his primary objective as talks advanced.

The structure itself, an initial loan followed by an option rather than an outright permanent sale, limits Leipzig’s upfront commitment while giving Nkunku a route back to a club and league where he previously thrived.

What Nkunku’s Departure Means For Milan’s Rebuild

For Milan, Nkunku’s exit is part of a broader squad reshaping under Amorim following a campaign that ended without Champions League qualification.

The Portuguese head coach has taken a firm approach to trimming his playing staff since arriving, and Nkunku’s absence from the Torino squad underlined that he didn’t feature in those plans even before this move advanced.

Newcastle United had also been monitoring the situation and could have offered Milan a straightforward permanent sale, which would have cleared Nkunku’s salary from the books entirely rather than leaving it split with Leipzig.

That interest appears to have fallen behind Leipzig’s advanced position, though nothing is confirmed until personal terms and registration are finalised.

What Happens Next For Nkunku’s Transfer

The key outstanding point now is finalising the last details of the fee structure and completing the registration process following his medical.

With the medical already underway and the fee largely agreed, the move looks close to being wrapped up before the transfer window closes.

For now, the situation remains advanced but not yet officially confirmed. The coming days should determine whether Nkunku’s second spell at Leipzig becomes official.