AC Milan's Post-Scudetto Collapse: Costly Transfers and Broken Ambitions

AC Milan have struggled to maintain the momentum from their 2021-22 Serie A title triumph, with a series of disappointing transfer windows damaging the club's long-term progress. Italian media analysis highlighted how several failed recruitment decisions over four consecutive seasons turned a championship-winning squad into a team lacking consistency and direction. Massive spending produced very limited success on the pitch, raising serious questions about the club's transfer strategy.

The problems reportedly began during the summer of 2022. Charles De Ketelaere arrived with high expectations after a major transfer fee, but he failed to adapt in Milan before later rebuilding his reputation elsewhere in Italy. Meanwhile, Divock Origi joined from Liverpool on a free transfer but struggled badly, producing very little impact despite earning a large salary. Defender Malick Thiaw eventually generated financial profit through a transfer, although his performances during his Milan spell remained inconsistent.

The following year brought a mix of success and disappointment. Players such as Tijjani Reijnders and Christian Pulisic delivered encouraging performances and became important parts of the squad. However, other expensive additions failed to justify their transfer fees. Yunus Musah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Samuel Chukwueze, and Noah Okafor all struggled to consistently meet expectations, leaving the squad unbalanced despite heavy investment.

The 2024 season reportedly became even more chaotic for the Rossoneri. Constant managerial changes created instability within the club, while several new arrivals failed to settle into the team. Santiago Gimenez delivered disappointing performances, and Alvaro Morata found it difficult to adapt to the system. Milan also relied heavily on short-term loan signings during the January transfer window, but most of those players eventually returned to their parent clubs without leaving a lasting impact.

The financial concerns continued into the summer of 2025 as Milan reportedly spent another massive amount in the transfer market. Big-money signings such as Christopher Nkunku and Ardon Jashari arrived with strong expectations but were unable to make an immediate difference. After years of aggressive spending and inconsistent recruitment, Milan now faces growing pressure to rebuild a squad capable of competing again at the highest level.