KYLE WALKER is joining AC Milan after agreeing a 12-month loan deal, SunSport can reveal.
The 34-year-old Manchester City skipper is expected in Italy in the coming days before being unveiled to the Rossoneri.
He was close to joining their fierce city rivals Inter after telling City he wanted to leave Etihad, but talks over his wages broke down.
AC Milan have now completed a deal that will see the Serie A giants pick up the majority of his £150,000 weekly wage package.
The deal ends Walker's glittering eight-year career at City (at least for now) and ends Milan's long-running interest in Manchester United's Marcus Rashford.
Under strict Serie A rules, clubs can only sign one British player per year.
A source said: “The deal is done. Kyle wants to go to Italy as soon as possible for the formalities.
“He is excited about the future and can't wait to put on the famous shirt.
“He is now an AC Milan player.”
The race to sign Walker started just over a week ago after he informed the club he wanted to quit.
Boss Pep Guardiola revealed his desire to leave following his side's 8-0 defeat to Salford in the FA Cup.
Walker was left out of the squad for the draw and was missing for the 2–2 draw against Brentford days later.
Guardiola revealed: “Kyle asked to explore the possibility of playing abroad.
“He asked about the Treble, when Bayern Munich wanted him, but the offer was not good enough.
“I prefer to play against players whose spirit is here. Kyle asked to explore, but that doesn't mean it's going to happen because you never know.
“We cannot understand the success the club had these years without Kyle. It is impossible.
“He's been our right-back and given us something we didn't have. He's been great.
“But now, for many reasons, he would like to explore going to another country to play out his final years.”
Incredible trophy harvest
Walker has won 17 major honors with City since his £50million move from Tottenham in 2017.
His accolades include six Prem titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and the Champions League.
He ruled out a move to the Saudi league to keep his chances of winning more England caps alive.
He feared a move to the Middle East would almost certainly end his chances of becoming the first black player to reach 100 caps for the Three Lions.
He currently has 93 and would have to fly for the World Cup next year to reach the historic milestone.
A source said: “He has no intention of giving up that dream. He has already achieved so much, but 100 caps for England would be his crowning achievement.”
To achieve that he will have to give everything. He knows his career is coming to an end, but he's not done yet.
'Don't write him off.'
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