Fikayo Tomori's journey from Chelsea to Serie A champion after studying Italian legends

Fikayo Tomori went to Italy to learn the art of defending and has ended up as a champion.

Tomori, 24, has enjoyed the best season of his career, helping AC Milan win the Serie A title while taking lessons from legends like Paolo Maldini and becoming more “streetwise” after studying Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini. Three Lions defender Tomori is one of a new generation of young English players who have moved abroad to further their careers and improve themselves both on and off the pitch.

Former Chelsea defender Tomori is bright, sharp and eloquent. He took up an Open University degree in Business Management, he is already fluent in Italian after 18 months at the San Siro and, best of all, he helped Milan win their first title in 11 years in his first full season. It sparked wild celebrations not just in the dressing room but also in the city.

"Everyone was just so happy,” said Tomori. “No one expected us to do it. We knew we could, so when you do it it feels even better. The partying in the streets was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It was like a 3, 4, 5-kilometre drag but it took hours. Stopping at all the lights. It was crazy. Being there for that time, it was mad.”

Tomori had no hesitation about moving to Italy when AC Milan came in and moves abroad have helped develop his England team-mates like Jude Bellingham, Tammy Abraham and Jadon Sancho. He has already won two caps, centre-half is the area arguably causing Gareth Southgate most concern with a first-choice back three far from settled. Meanwhile, Tomori has won the title in a country synonymous with the art of defending.

Milan legend Maldini is the club’s technical director, he met Franco Baresi at the title-winning celebrations and there has been