AC Milan have endured a disappointing last decade on the pitch due to poor recruitment and management, however, they still retain their status as one of the most decorated and most followed clubs across Europe.
The Rossoneri are not known to splash huge sums in the transfer market unlike many of the other top European clubs, even in this era of obscene inflation. Nonetheless, they have managed to enjoy some recent successes and are once again, one of the best teams in Italy.
Soccernet.football takes a look at the ten most expensive signings in AC Milanโs rich history.
10. Fikayo Tomori โ โฌ34.4m (2021)
AC Milan signed Tomori from Chelsea on an initial six-month loan before making the transfer permanent for โฌ34.4m in 2021. The English defender quickly established himself as a key figure in Milanโs backline and his impact was immediate, helping Milan secure a top-four finish and a return to the Champions League. Tomoriโs partnership with Simon Kjรฆr was alsoย instrumental in the Rossoneriโs 2022 Serie A title win, their first in 11 years.
9. Krzysztof Piฤ tek โ โฌ35m (2019)
Milan signed the Polish striker in January 2019, just six months after he joined Genoa. Piฤ tek came off the bench for his debut against Napoli and scored in each of his next five games, including two braces. However, his hot streak came to an end as quickly as it began as the Pole managed just three goals in the final 10 matches of the season before being sold to Hertha Berlin for โฌ24 million in 2020. Following two loan spells back in Italy, he moved to Turkey on a free transfer in 2023.
8. Filippo Inzaghi โ โฌ36.15m (2001)
Inzaghi joined from Juventus in 2001 and netted 126 Serie A goals in 300 appearances for the Rossoneri, along with 29 more in the Champions League, before retiring in 2012 with three league titles and two Champions League trophies to his name. Although the deal was costly at the time, The Italian certainly etched his name into the clubโs history, becoming one of Milanโs most successful transfers to date.
7. Charles De Ketelaere โ โฌ36.5m (2022)
Following their 2021/2022 Serie A triumph, Milan signed the highly rated Belgian youngster from Club Brugge. De Ketelaere drew comparisons to former Milan legends Kaka and Rivaldo before his arrival, but his first season was a major letdown as he failed to score in 32 Serie A appearances. The Rossoneri loaned the Belgian international to Atalanta for the 2023/2024 season, and after revitalized his career. He is expected to make the move permanent this summer.
6. Mattia Caldara โ โฌ37.74m (2017)
Caldara arrived at the San Siro from Juventus in 2017 while Bonucci made a U-turn and re-joined the Old Lady after one season with the Rossoneri. Caldara saw his early years in Milan plagued by injuries and poor form with the Italian unable to settle at the San Siro. He spent the 2020/2021, 2021/2022 and 3022/2023 seasons on loan at Atalanta, Venezia and Spezia respectively. Milan are yet to reap the gains of their investment seven years later.
5. Andre Silva โ โฌ38m (2017)
At the time Milan signed him, the Portuguese forward had a growing reputation following his goal-scoring exploits for the Porto youth sides and their first-team. However, he was unable to replicate that form for the Rossoneri in Serie A. Silva joined Sevilla on loan a year later, followed by a subsequent loan to Eintracht Frankfurt, who eventually purchased him permanently for just โฌ3m in 2020.
4. Lucas Paqueta โ โฌ38.4m (2019)
In January 2019, Milan sought to replicate the tremendous success they had with Kaka by bringing another young Brazilian talent to Europe as they signed Paqueta from Flamengo. The weight of expectations to become the next Kaka ultimately overwhelmed the Brazilian, who managed just one goal in 44 appearances for the Rossoneri before being sold to Lyon. Paqueta thrived in France, eventually persuading West Ham to spend โฌ43 million to bring him to the Premier League in 2022.
3. Rui Costa โ โฌ41.32m (2001)
Costa became the Rossoneriโs most expensive transfer at the time after a โฌ41.32m deal was agreed between Milan and Fiorentina. The Portuguese subsequently became Milanโs main creative force and helped the club to one Champions League title, one Serie A title and one Coppa Italia during his spell at the San Siro, before eventually losing his place to a young Brazilian named Kaka.
2. Leonardo Bonucci โ โฌ42m (2017)
Bonucci had been part of one of the most formidable defensive units in history at Juventus alongside Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, and Andrea Barzagli, but tensions with head coach Massimiliano Allegri led to his departure in the summer of 2017. The Italy international joined AC Milan in a โฌ42m deal, however, after struggling to settle at Milan, Bonucci returned to Juventus just one year later.
1. Rafael Leao โ โฌ49.5m (2019)
The exciting Portuguese winger is AC Milanโs most expensive signing till date. After playing a limited role during his first season at San Siro, he went on to establish himself in Milanโs front line as they won the 2022 Serie A title with 11 goals and 10 assists in 34 league matches. He followed that up with 16 goals and 15 assists in 2022/2023, helping Milan reach the Champions League semi-finals and secure a fourth-place finish in Serie A.