AC Milan announced on Thursday the successful acquisition of American forward Christian Pulisic from Chelsea, marking a critical juncture in the athlete's career. The move sees Pulisic become the third American player to represent Milan, following defender Oguchi Onyewu and Sergiño Dest.
The Serie A club has been in pursuit of Pulisic, outbidding rivals including Juventus, Lyon, and Galatasaray, ultimately matching Chelsea's asking price of £20 million ($25.9m). The 24-year-old Pennsylvania native has agreed to a significant pay cut to facilitate his transition to the Italian club.
Pulisic stated, "I'm very happy to be here. I'm excited. It's legendary and I'm really excited to come here and try to win some titles here." He had expressed his joy on arriving at Milan's Malpensa airport, eager to be part of a club known for its seven European championships and its recent 2022 Serie A title.
Official, confirmed. Christian Pulisic is new AC Milan player. ️ pic.twitter.com/IZtoDriVKv — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 13, 2023
The agreement sees Pulisic joining former Chelsea teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek and becoming Milan's fourth new recruit this summer. The club, owned by American investment firm RedBird Capital Partners, has been bolstering its lineup, following a narrow defeat to city rivals Inter Milan in the Champions League semifinals last season.
The 24-year-old Pulisic will sport the No. 11 shirt for Milan, leaving behind Chelsea, a club where he faced increased competition and diminishing playtime. His exit aids Chelsea's financial strategy, which has seen over £200m ($258.7m) raised in outgoing transfers this summer.
Pulisic's tenure at Chelsea began with a €64 million deal in 2018, originating from Borussia Dortmund. Unfortunately, injuries hindered his Premier League performance, despite his involvement in Chelsea's Champions League-winning team in 2021 and victories at the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup later that year.
Despite the domestic hurdles, Pulisic flourished at an international level, twice leading the USMNT to the Concacaf Nations League title and aiding the team's progression to the 2022 World Cup's round of 16. His new venture aims at securing regular playtime and bolstering his career trajectory ahead of the 2024 Copa America and the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting.
In Milan, Pulisic is likely to receive a warm welcome from fans who have already embraced the club's other new arrivals, including Marco Sportiello, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Luka Romero. Given Pulisic's versatile playing abilities across the forward line, he's expected to provide the Rossoneri a much-needed offensive boost in the coming seasons.
Having cemented an impressive international reputation, Pulisic now embarks on a new chapter of his career in Italy, further underscoring the increasing global influence of American soccer. His move to Milan signals a fresh start and an opportunity to thrive in one of the world's most competitive leagues.
