Kyle Walker has departed Manchester City to join AC Milan on a six-month loan, with an option for the Serie A club to purchase him permanently in the summer.
The 34-year-old expressed his desire to leave City earlier in January, with his last game for the club being the 4-1 victory over West Ham at the beginning of the month.
City accepted Milan’s loan offer on Thursday, with the summer buy option valued at around £4.2m (€5m), as reported by Sky in Italy.
Kyle Walker has contributed to City’s success in winning 17 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League, since his transfer from Tottenham for £50m in 2017.
After City’s treble win in 2023, he nearly joined Bayern Munich but extended his contract with City until 2026.
Kyle Walker bids farewell to City after making 319 appearances over seven-and-a-half seasons at the Etihad Stadium, captaining the team to a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title last season.
At AC Milan, he will wear the number 32 shirt as they currently sit eighth in Serie A and are in contention for a top-eight finish in the Champions League table under Sergio Conceicao.
Walker: I’ll be forever grateful to Pep
Walker expresses his deep gratitude towards Man City’s manager Pep Guardiola, who brought him to the club in 2017.
In an Instagram post, the former Sheffield Utd defender stated: “Manchester City… where do I start? Signing for this incredible club in 2017 was a dream come true. Seven years later, winning 17 trophies, including the Champions League and the famous treble is something I could only have dreamt as a child.
“To play alongside so many top players has pushed me to be the best version of myself, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity I’ve had at the Etihad.
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Watch Kyle Walker arrive in Milan ahead of completing his move to the Serie A side
“A huge thank you to so many people, the coaching staff, the kit men and all the backroom staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes. You make every day enjoyable and provide the platform for us to perform at our best.
“To my team-mates, from the moment I walked through the door I felt at home. Thank you for the great memories and for all the success we have shared together. You are friends, but also family for life.
“To Pep Guardiola, thank you for believing in me and working so hard to bring me here in 2017. Together, we’ve celebrated 17 trophies, and your guidance has helped shape me into the player I am today. I’ll be forever grateful.
“To Annie, our children and all my family who have been there and supported me on this journey thank you.
“Most importantly, to the fans – thank you for embracing me as one of your own from day one. Your unwavering support, week in, week out, home and away, will never be forgotten.
“I wish you all constant success going forward. Thank you.”
Walker one of Pep’s most trusted – but time catches up with everyone
Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom:
By the end of his first season in charge, Pep Guardiola had realised that it would take a massive overhaul of the Manchester City squad to win the trophies he’d been brought in to deliver.
Ten regular first-team players were shown the exit door in the summer of 2017 and a raft of new talent was brought in to pave the way for an era of domestic dominance.
Central to that was the signing of Kyle Walker, who at the time was the most expensive defender in English football history, arriving from Tottenham for a fee worth more than £50m including add-ons.
Guardiola needed more energy from his full-backs to realise his vision, and Walker was seen to be the perfect upgrade on fan-favourite Pablo Zabaleta, who was released at the age of 32.
Eyebrows were raised at the time, but in the seven-and-a-half years since, Walker has repaid that
