Christian Pulisic signs with US-owned AC Milan to revive his club career before home World Cup

MILAN: Christian Pulisic will attempt to revive his sagging club career at American-owned AC Milan leading into a home World Cup in the United States in 2026. Milan announced on Thursday that Pulisic has signed a four-year deal with the club, with the Rossoneri retaining the option for a further season. Considered the top US player, the 24-year-old Pulisic struggled with injuries and never fully lived up to expectations at Chelsea.

He has left the London club with a year left on his contract. The midfielder-forward is set to become the third American to play for the Rossoneri after Oguchi Onyewu and Sergiño Dest. Milan, which are owned by American investment firm RedBird, paid a transfer fee of 20 million euros ($22 million) for Pulisic, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport.

That’s less than a third of what Chelsea paid Borussia Dortmund for Pulisic in 2019. “I’m very happy to be here. I’m excited.

I’m excited to start with this historic club,” Pulisic told reporters waiting for him upon arrival at Milan’s Malpensa airport on Wednesday. “It’s legendary and I’m really excited to come here and try to win some titles.” Milan are a seven-time European champion and lost to city rival Inter Milan in the Champions League semifinals last season. The Rossoneri won the last of their 19 Serie A titles in 2022.

Despite his struggles at Chelsea, Pulisic did win the Champions League, European Super Cup and Club World Cup. He also produced other key moments which Chelsea highlighted in a statement while thanking him for his contributions. Pulisic has played 60 times for the United States, scoring 25 times.