Koni De Winter Signs Five-Year Deal With AC Milan

Koni De Winter has signed a five-year deal with AC Milan. The Belgian defender joins from Genoa in a €20 million deal, as confirmed by reports.

TRANSFER DETAILS

De Winter, 23, joins Milan after impressing with Genoa for the past two seasons. Milan pays an initial €18 million, with €2 million in add-ons. De Winter passed his medical and will earn €1.8 million yearly. He gets the Number 5 shirt at San Siro. Due to a sell-on clause, Juventus will get a portion of the fee. Milan was quick to sign De Winter after selling Malick Thiaw to Newcastle United for €40 million. Thiaw’s transfer was a significant move for Milan, indicating their intent to strengthen the squad.

WHY MILAN SIGNED DE WINTER

Milan finished eighth in Serie A last season and aims for at least a top-four finish this season after narrowly missing out last year on European competitions. They will want to improve after a series of defensive issues, prompting the club to seek depth after Thiaw’s exit. De Winter played 32 Serie A matches for Genoa last season, assisting his team in finishing 13th while scoring three goals and assisting once. Milan sees him as a young, reliable defender and he brings three international caps for Belgium, adding experience and versatility as Milan aims for the title.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR MILAN AND DE WINTER?

Milan’s next game is a Coppa Italia tie against Bari at San Siro. The club hopes to register De Winter in time for him to be on the bench. Milan will aim to integrate De Winter quickly and have him compete for a starting spot. Meanwhile, Genoa will need to rebuild after losing a key player in central defense, as they begin to adjust following a challenging season.