The January transfer window is currently open and heading towards its final stretch, and while Milan have made it clear that there will be no reinforcements for the men’s side, things are different for the women’s sector.
The latest coup for the AC Milan Women seems to be Aniek Nouwen. The talented Dutch defender will come to the Rossonere on loan from her parent club, Chelsea FC. Nouwen has not seen much first-team action at The Blues due to the team’s surplus of defenders. The news was first broken by SempreMilan.it‘s Luca Maninetti.
As per FBref, Nouwen has only played 17 games for the West London side since signing for them in 2021. The player has started a total of 13 games for the team, including just one match for the current season.
As a result, Nouwen will head to Milan on loan in hopes of seeing more first-team action. The defender is a Dutch international who is hoping to get more playing time under her belt in preparation for the upcoming Women’s World Cup in July.
The Netherlands have qualified for the tournament and were drawn into Group E alongside the current title holders, the United States of America.
Milan’s backline has been rather porous this season thanks to the departures of players like Laura Agard, Linda Tucceri Cimini, and another previous loanee, Laia Codina. Therefore, the Dutch centre-back is being brought in to deal with this issue.
🚨 ESCLUSIVA: Colpo in difesa del #MilanFemminile! Arriva in prestito Aniek #Nouwen, difensore classe '99 del Chelsea. Questa mattina ha svolto le visite mediche di rito, pronta ad unirsi al team 🔴⚫🔥 pic.twitter.com/1ONjywt8Ez
— Luca Maninetti (@LucaManinetti) January 19, 2023
Nouwen is an up-and-coming defender who is tall, powerful, and aggressive in defense. She is good at winning headers, reading plays, intercepting passes, and is willing to put her body on the line to defend her goal. In addition to this, the defender can also function as a playmaker and lob off accurate long passes.
She does, however, have a few kinks that need to be ironed out, including a vulnerability to low crosses and a susceptibility to mistakes while under pressure.
Nonetheless, Milan can help the player improve on these aspects while fortifying her strengths during a half-season loan spell. And Nouwen can aid the Rossonere in their quest for both silverware and a spot in Europe next season.