AC Milan’s transfer market is heating up with the first official departure of the 2025-26 squad. Zachary Athekame, the Swiss forward born in 2000, has been loaned out to Olympique Lyonnais on a dry loan basis, with no purchase option or obligation included. The French club will cover the player’s full wages for the duration of the loan — a deal that brings no immediate cash to Milan’s coffers but does allow the club to reduce its wage bill for the season ahead.
A Necessary Move or a Missed Opportunity?
Athekame’s departure has already sparked a lively debate among supporters. Some see it as a short-sighted decision — letting a young, talented player leave for free — while others view it as an unavoidable step in the context of a broader squad overhaul that is expected to see at least eight players leave before the window closes. Athekame’s absence from the last pre-season friendly against Chelsea had already signalled that his exit was imminent.
The same applied to other players who did not feature in that match: Fikayo Tomori, Youssouf Fofana, and other transfer-listed profiles, confirming that the management is working in a coordinated fashion to shape the final squad available to Rúben Amorim.
The Situation on the Wings
With Athekame gone, the composition of Milan’s attacking wide options shifts slightly. At present, the flanks are covered by Samuel Chukwueze and Saelemaekers on the right, while the left side looks thinner. Pending potential reinforcements from the market, Rafael Leão, Christopher Nkunku and Christian Pulisic could all be deployed in behind the striker, with Gonzalo Ramos seemingly set to lead the line as the first-choice centre-forward in Amorim’s tactical setup.
Further Departures on the Horizon
Beyond Athekame, Milan are monitoring several other outgoing situations. Both Tomori and Fofana have admirers on the market and could leave the club in the coming weeks. If these exits materialise, the club will have the financial room and squad space to strengthen in areas that Amorim has identified as priorities. Supporters will be hoping that this wave of departures truly represents the first building block of an ambitious window — and not merely a trimming exercise with no follow-through in terms of new arrivals.
