Christopher Nkunku has made plain that he would prefer to remain at RB Leipzig beyond his current loan spell rather than head back to AC Milan, according to Goal.com. The French forward, who is with the German side on loan from the Serie A club, said he can readily picture a longer stay, though he stressed that the outcome rests with the clubs rather than with him alone. A €28 million purchase option is written into the loan arrangement, Goal.com reports.
Why it matters
Nkunku's comments put pressure on Leipzig to act on a clause that could settle his future well before the season ends. For Milan, the remarks suggest a player they signed for the 2025-26 campaign is already looking elsewhere, and a permanent sale at the agreed figure would close that chapter. For Leipzig, the question is whether a forward who has started the 2026-27 season strongly is worth committing to on a long-term basis.
A strong start back in Germany
The 28-year-old has begun the new campaign in productive form, with four goals and two assists from eight appearances, per Goal.com. That output stands in contrast to his recent seasons elsewhere and helps explain why he is eager to formalise the arrangement.
Speaking to Sport Bild in an interview cited by Bulinews, Nkunku noted that the season has only just begun and that multiple parties are involved in any decision. He said the clubs would need to come to an agreement at the end of the campaign, adding that while the matter does not rest solely with him, he could very easily imagine extending his time in Germany.
His wish to stay is tied to how his earlier years in Leipzig unfolded. Nkunku's first spell at the Red Bull Arena remains the high point of his career, with 70 goals in 172 matches, according to Goal.com. He described the four years he spent there as a period containing significant moments both professionally and personally, and said he can feel the affection of the supporters and the family atmosphere around the club. He added that he feels happy and settled in the city and at the club, and that knowing the environment from before makes it a special place for him.
Detours through London and Milan
The path back to Leipzig followed a difficult stretch. Nkunku left the club in 2023 for Chelsea in a move reported at £52 million, but a serious knee injury sustained soon after his arrival disrupted his time in England. He went on to register 18 goals in 62 appearances over two seasons with the Blues, Goal.com reports.
A switch to AC Milan for the 2025-26 season did not deliver the revival he was seeking either. He made 35 appearances in all competitions for the Rossoneri but scored only eight times, according to Goal.com. Those numbers sit awkwardly beside his Leipzig record and give context to his stated preference for a return to familiar surroundings.
The forward also spoke about his international ambitions. Last capped by France in November of last year, he said getting back into the national squad is now a clear objective rather than a dream, and that playing at his current level naturally brings the desire to represent his country again. He also mentioned Zinedine Zidane, calling the former midfielder a legend and the greatest player France has produced, and recalling that Zidane was one of his biggest role models as a boy, including during the 2006 World Cup staged in Germany.
What happens next depends on Leipzig's willingness to trigger the €28 million option and on Milan's position in any end-of-season talks. Watch whether Leipzig move early on the clause or wait until the campaign concludes, as Nkunku himself suggested they might.
