Samuel Chukwueze: How La Liga return can inspire AC Milan outcast to red-hot form

Samuel Chukwueze is set to return to AC Milan after Fulham opted against making his loan spell permanent, but clubs in Spain are already making enquiries about the winger, Afrik Foot reports.

The 27-year-old made 25 appearances for Fulham during the just-concluded Premier League campaign, contributing three goals and four assists.

The Cottagers ultimately decided those contributions did not justify a permanent deal, and Chukwueze will now report back to Milan for pre-season preparations with his future at the San Siro still uncertain.

How a La Liga return can reignite Chukwueze’s career

A source close to the transfer situation of the winger told Footy-Africa that AC Milan, now under Ruben Amorim, values Chukwueze and considers him part of their rebuild.

“There is interest from Spain because he did very well in La Liga, but Milan will not sell him for just any price,” the Footy-Africa source confirmed.

“They have a valuation in mind, and any club interested will have to meet it.”

Chukwueze, in his time at Villareal, was direct, devastating in one-on-one situations, and capable of producing moments of individual brilliance that very few wingers could replicate. His solo goal against Madrid comes to mind, but consistency has always been a problem for him.

His performances in Spain earned him a €28 million move to Milan in the summer of 2023, and many hoped he would explode at San Siro.

The physical intensity of Serie A, alongside the weight of expectation that came with his price tag, combined to blunt a winger whose game is built on freedom, confidence and rhythm. He never truly found his footing in Italy, and the loan to Fulham, while productive in certain games, did not provide the rediscovery he would’ve wanted.

La Liga, by contrast, is the environment in which Chukwueze has always looked most at home. The Spanish game’s emphasis on technical quality, wide play and individual expression suits his profile far more naturally than the defensive rigidity of Serie A or the relentless physicality of the Premier League.

At Villarreal, he had the trust of his coaching staff, the familiarity of a system built around his strengths, and consistent playing time.

What a move means for the Super Eagles

Beyond the club football considerations, Chukwueze’s next destination has direct implications for Nigeria’s AFCON 2027 campaign.

The winger has been a peripheral figure in the Super Eagles setup in recent seasons, with his inconsistent club form making it difficult for Chelle to justify regular selection in a squad that now boasts genuine competition for wide positions.

Ademola Lookman’s arrival at Atletico Madrid, Femi Azeez’s emergence from the Championship, and the continued development of younger options like Philip Otele has added pressure on Chukwueze to deliver at club level if he is to reclaim a meaningful role in green and white.

A La Liga return offers the most realistic pathway to that revival. Regular football at a high-profile Spanish club, in a system that suits his natural game, would give Chukwueze the platform to rediscover the form that once made him one of Africa’s most exciting wide players.

The transfer window is now open, and Milan’s position is clear, with offers from Spain lurking in the shadows.