Kyle Walker has left Manchester City and was initially lent to AC Milan for six months. The club from the Serie A has an option to permanently buy it this summer.
The 34-year-old asked earlier in January to leave City, with his last performance for the club in the 4-1 home victory in West Ham at the start of the month.
City accepted the formal loan offer from Milan on Thursday. According to Sky in Italy, the option to buy in the summer is worth around £ 4.2 million (€ 5 million).
Walker has helped City to win seventeen prizes, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League, since he came to the club in 2017 through a £ 50 million contract from Tottenham.
He was about to go to Bayern Munich after the triple victory of City in 2023, but drew a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2026.
Walker leaves City after 319 performances for the club for seven and half a season in the Etihad Stadium, while last season he was the leader of the historic fourth consecutive Premier League title.
The English International will wear number 32 shirt at AC Milan, which is eighth in the Serie A and is on track to finish in the top eight of the Champions League, while Sergio Conceicao occupies the sixth place.
Walker: I will be grateful for Pep forever
Walker said that he will be man city boss Pep Guardiola “forever grateful”, who brought him to the club in 2017.
The former defender of Sheffield Utd posted on Instagram: “Manchester City … where should I start? Drawing at this incredible club in 2017 was a dream come true. Seven years later is winning seventeen trophies, including the Champions League and The famous Treble something that as a child I could only dream of it.
“To play with so many top players, I have been able to become the best version of myself, and I am really grateful for the chance I got at Etihad.
“A huge thanks to so many people, the technical staff, the equipment men and all the back room staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes. You make fun every day and offer us the platform to perform at our best.
“To my teammates: from the moment I walked through the door, I felt at home. Thank you for the great memories and for all the success we have shared together. You are friends, but also family for life.
“To Pep Guardiola: Thank you for believing in me and worked so hard to bring me here in 2017. Together we celebrated seventeen trophies and your guidance helped me become the player I am now. I will forever to stay.” satisfying.
“To Annie, our children and my whole family who have been there and supported me on this trip, thanks.
“The most important thing: to the fans: thank you for embracing me from day one as one of you. Your relentless support, week in, week out, at home and out, will never be forgotten.
“I wish you all good luck in the future. Thanks.”
Walker is one of Pep's most trusted players, but time gives everyone
Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom:
Towards the end of his first season, Pep Guardiola had realized that a huge revision of the selection of Manchester City would be needed to win the trophies for which he had been brought in.
Ten regular players from the first team were shown the exit in the summer of 2017 and a whole series of new talent was put on to clear the way for an era of domestic dominance.
Central to this was the acquisition of Kyle Walker, who at that time was the most expensive defender in the history of English football and came over from Tottenham for an amount of more than £ 50 million, including extras.
Guardiola needed more energy from his wing defenders to realize his vision, and Walker was seen as the perfect upgrade for favorite at Fans Pablo Zabaleta, who was released at the age of 32.
At the time, the eyebrows were erected, but in the seven and a half years later, Walker paid back that transfer fee many times.
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