AC Milan are on the verge of welcoming their sixth Nigerian player in the club’s storied history, as negotiations are underway with Villarreal to secure the services of Samuel Chukwueze.
The Italian giants have reportedly reached an agreement on personal terms with the talented winger, and now the focus is on finalising the deal with his current club.
Looking back at the Nigerians who have donned the famous red and black jersey of AC Milan, it is evident that their experiences varied in terms of success and impact.
Aliyu Datti was the first Nigerian to make his way to Milan. After starting his career at Padova, he arrived at AC Milan in January 1999.
However, his time at the club was short-lived, as he spent a portion of his three-year stint on loan at Calcio Monza.
Datti played only three games for Milan without finding the back of the net before departing for AC Siena in 2002.
Taribo West followed a different path, joining Inter Milan in 1997 before making a sensational switch to AC Milan in December 1999.
West became one of the few players to feature for both Milan clubs. Unfortunately, his time at AC Milan was brief, as he made just four appearances and scored one goal before leaving for FC K’lautern in November 2001.
Kingsley Umunegbu, a product of Milan’s youth system, made his official debut in December 2007.
However, his appearances for the club were limited, and he was loaned out to several teams, including Salernitana, Portogruaro, Varese, and Renate.
Umunegbu never had the opportunity to play in a league game for Milan, although he did return briefly to fill in the second non-EU spot during the 2011-12 season.
