Samuel Chukwueze injury: How long could AC Milan and Super Eagles winger be out?

Samuel Chukwueze could face several weeks or even months on the sidelines after suffering a left hip problem.

It is an unfortunate development that is raising concerns for AC Milan and Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

The 27-year-old winger complained of pain after AC Milan’s 3-2 Serie A victory over Atalanta and subsequently missed training as the club assessed his condition.

Chukwueze has already been ruled out of Milan’s upcoming UEFA Europa League clash against Bournemouth, with the club’s medical staff reportedly concerned that his injury could require an extended recovery period.

An examination by a specialist is expected to provide a clearer picture of the problem and determine how long the 27-year-old could be unavailable.

Although the precise severity of the injury has not been established, reports from Italy suggest that the winger could miss anything from several weeks to a few months.

How many matches could Chukwueze miss for AC Milan and Nigeria?

The length of Chukwueze’s absence will determine the scale of the setback for both his club and country.

A recovery period of three to four weeks could see him miss at least four AC Milan matches against Bournemouth, Udinese, Bologna and Inter Milan. Under that scenario, he could return before Nigeria’s next international fixtures, provided his rehabilitation progresses as expected.

However, an absence of five to six weeks could rule him out of further club matches against Ferencváros and Genoa. It could also leave him unavailable for Nigeria’s two proposed AFCON qualifying fixtures against Tanzania on November 13 and November 17.

A more serious injury requiring around two months of recovery could keep Samuel Chukwueze out of approximately 11 or 12 Milan matches, depending on the final diagnosis and the club’s schedule. The Nigerian international could also miss both fixtures against Tanzania.

Why Chukwueze’s injury is a major blow for AC Milan

Chukwueze was enjoying a turnaround in fortunes in Milan and turning into an important creative outlet under manager Rúben Amorim before the injury interrupted his progress.

The winger has made eight appearances across all competitions in the 2026/27 season, including seven starts, recording two assists in 615 minutes of action.

His Serie A performances have been particularly encouraging. He has registered two assists, completed 87 per cent of his passes and created 13 key passes across league and European competition.

Chukwueze has also contributed defensively, recording six successful tackles and two interceptions in his eight appearances.

His absence comes at a difficult time for Milan, who are already without fellow winger Alexis Saelemaekers following ankle surgery. Saelemaekers is expected to miss at least five months, leaving the manager with fewer options on the right flank.