AC Milan’s new head coach Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze will remain at the club for the 2026/27 season, ending weeks of transfer speculation and blocking what would have been a permanent move to Fulham.

Amorim made the announcement on July 9, 2026, during interviews following his appointment as Milan’s new manager. His reasoning was tactical and blunt.

“Chukwueze is staying with us; we need players who can play one-on-one.”

That single sentence killed Fulham’s hopes of converting a season-long loan into a permanent deal, reportedly valued at around €24 million.

The loan, the numbers, and the blocked deal

Chukwueze spent the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Fulham, where he made 26 appearances, scoring 3 goals and registering 4 assists. Fulham’s loan agreement reportedly included an option to buy at that price point. With Amorim’s public declaration, that clause will go unactivated.

The 27-year-old originally joined AC Milan from Villarreal in July 2023 for a reported fee of approximately €20 million plus performance-based add-ons. His contract runs through June 2028, giving Milan significant leverage in any negotiation, and right now, they’re choosing not to negotiate at all.