Christian Pulisic is staying at AC Milan for a long time. The club announced on Friday that the American forward has signed a new contract that runs until June 2031, one day before the first Milan derby of the season.
A new deal to 2031
“AC Milan is pleased to announce that Christian Pulisic has extended his contract with the Club through June 30th, 2031,” the club said in its statement.
His old contract was due to end in June 2027, with an option for one more year. That would have left Milan in a weak spot next summer, because other clubs could have tried to sign him for a lower fee. The new deal takes that worry away.
Milan also posted a short message on social media: “Captain America’s Rossonero mission continues.”
Three good years in Italy
Pulisic joined Milan from Chelsea in July 2023. Things had not worked out for him in London, but in Italy he found his best form. According to the club, he has scored 44 goals in 141 games for Milan so far.
He is 28 now and will be 32 when the new deal ends. Under coach Ruben Amorim, who took over this season, he has played both as a number 10 and out wide, and he is still one of the first names on the team sheet.
Derby on Saturday
The timing of the news is good for Milan. On Saturday they host Inter at San Siro, with kick-off at 8.45pm in Italy (7.45pm UK time). It is Amorim’s first Milan derby as coach.
Milan need a lift. They lost to Bologna in midweek, their first league defeat of the season. Inter are top of Serie A and still unbeaten, but they will be without their captain Lautaro Martínez, who has a hamstring injury.
Our take
This is a smart move by Milan. Pulisic was close to the last two years of his contract, and that is when clubs start to lose control of a player. Now they can plan around him for the next five seasons.
It also shows how much his career has changed. At Chelsea he was often on the bench or injured. At Milan he has played regularly, scored goals and become a leader. The derby is the right stage for him to repay the club’s trust, and a goal against Inter would be the perfect way to celebrate his new deal.
Was Milan right to give Christian Pulisic a contract until 2031? Tell us in the comments.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Christian Pulisic by Bryan Berlin (CC BY-SA 4.0), Christian Pulisic for Milan by Saggittarius A (CC BY 4.0), San Siro by Andrzej Otrębski (CC BY-SA 4.0).
