Christian Pulisic to AC Milan latest transfer updates: How move to Italy could spark USMNT captain's career

While Christian Pulisic has starred for the U.S. national team over the past few years, his club career at Chelsea has also taken a downward trajectory, ultimately leading to his departure from the club which is imminent.

Arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2019 for a whopping €60 million ($68.4m), Pulisic began his Chelsea career in style, contributing significantly to a Champions League title season in 2021. Yet he has never been able to truly lock down a consistent starting role, and the past two seasons have seen his minutes decline heavily.

Rumors of Pulisic leaving the Premier League club this summer have been floated for several months, and it's now all but confirmed that Italian club AC Milan will come away with his signature.

AC Milan are desperate to keep pace with cross-town rivals Inter on multiple fronts, after the Nerazzurri finished one spot ahead of them in the league standings in 2022/23 and also reached the Champions League final after beating Milan in the semis. Pulisic will be tasked with helping to reverse that situation in 2023/24.

MORE: Full rundown of all latest transfer rumors for USMNT players in summer 2023

Christian Pulisic to AC Milan, here we go! Deal in place between clubs as Chelsea accepted conditions of final bid. 🔴⚫️🇺🇸 #ACMilan

Personal terms agreed weeks ago as the player only wanted Milan — pushing for this new chapter.

Medical/travel being scheduled. pic.twitter.com/E49z8U4dVB

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 7, 2023

Christian Pulisic to AC Milan latest transfer updates

Chelsea and AC Milan have come to an agreement on a transfer fee, according to Fabrizio Romano, and all that remains is for a medical to be completed the week of July 10 before the deal is formally announced. The soon-to-be 25-year-old Pulisic will be under contract in Italy for four seasons, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport.

Pulisic wanted the move to Italy and reportedly agreed personal terms weeks before the clubs settled on a fee which is believed to be around €22 million ($24m / £18.8m). According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, French club Lyon also bid €25m for Pulisic ($27.3m / £21.4m), but ESPN later reported that Pulisic was not interested in a move to the Ligue 1 side.

The saga took about a month to unfold after a June 9 report in Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport indicated mutual interest from all sides on a move for Pulisic to Milan.

The Gazzetta report stated that Pulisic could be available for a €25 million transfer fee ($26.9m / £21.5m) and that Milan would look to deploy the American on the right wing, with Rafael Leao occupying the opposite flank. Milan reportedly submitted an initial bid of €14m ($15.3m / £12m), according to The Athletic, and that a few days later the Rossoneri increased their bid to €22m ($24m / £18.8m) bid for Pulisic.

Between U.S. international teammate Sergino Dest and former Chelsea teammate Olivier Giroud, Pulisic had a chance to collect plenty of insight on the Italian club. Dest spent the second half of the 2022/23 season at Milan but failed to break into the first team at all, with head coach Stefano Pioli suggesting that Dest struggled to adapt to his tactical setup.

MORE: What happened to Christian Pulisic at Chelsea? USMNT star's minutes disappear

AC Milan move just what Pulisic needs to revive career

Pulisic's move to the Italian club makes a ton of sense for all parties.

Milan have just seen regular starter Brahim Diaz return to Real Madrid after a two-year loan spell. Diaz signed a new contract with Madrid, ending any chance that the Italian club had of signing him permanently. With Rafael Leao holding down the left-wing position, Pulisic could take over Diaz's place on the right, and occasionally move into the middle.

Pulisic would compete for a place with the likes of Alexis Saelemaekers, Junior Messias, and Ante Rebic, all players he could beat out for time. Even if they were to sign more attacking players, it feels as if Pulisic could still be the perceived starter.

Top Italian clubs have made a living in the past few years rehabilitating players who were struggling for minutes in the Premier League, especially those from Chelsea. Defender Fikayo Tomori couldn't get time at Stamford Bridge a few years ago, stuck amidst a crowded center-back room, but he has established himself well at the San Siro. Juan Cuadrado did the same at Juventus back in 2017, starting a prolific six-year career in Turin.

Across town, Chelsea and Manchester United castoff Romelu Lukaku starred at Inter Milan before earning a big-money move back to London, only to be loaned back to Inter. Mohamed Salah did the same, using a move to Roma to kickstart his career before solidifying a hugely successful switch to Liverpool. Roma are now benefiting from the goals of Tammy Abraham, who left Chelsea for regular playing time.

Christian Pulisic stats at Chelsea

While Christian Pulisic has not been a consistent presence within the Chelsea lineup, he has delivered when given a run of games. With the Blues, Pulisic scored a total of 26 goals and assisted 21 more, with some very important contributions.

The American's most important goal for Chelsea is almost certainly his strike against Real Madrid in the first leg of their 2021 Champions League semifinal, helping secure a 1-1 draw. He then assisted the eventual winning goal in the return leg at home to advance 3-1 on aggregate, with Chelsea advancing to the final where they would lift the trophy.

A first of the season for @cpulisic_10! 😁#CheWol pic.twitter.com/3jy4NiWf8O

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 8, 2022