Andrej Kostic insight: Scouting report, stats, transfer rating and more

One of the signings of AC Milan’s summer window that might just go under the radar is that of striker Andrej Kostic.

Part of the reason for the above statement is because of the fact that Kostic was actually announced as a new signing back in March, and it came after a weeks-long transfer soap opera involving Partizan Belgrade, where he remained until the end of the season.

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In fact, Milan had been linked with Kostic for some time tried to get him through the door in the January window, but then things went so quiet that it seemed that the pursuit could have been abandoned for good. That was, however, until the March acceleration.

Kostic did not formally join until the summer given that the window was not open. In the statement on the official website it made clear that he will join the Futuro initially, but his record in Serbia suggests a high ceiling. Rohit Rajeev has the scouting report on a player already impressing at Milanello.

Back story

Andrej Kostic was born on 16 January 2007 in Podgorica, Montenegro. He played in the youth system of his hometown club Budućnost. After graduating through the various youth levels, he was named a part of the senior squad for the 2023-24 season.

He would have to wait until the March of that campaign for his first-team debut, coming off the bench in a 6-0 win over Arsenal Tivat. The striker did however earn his first professional contract with the club, signing until January 2027.

The 2024-25 season is when things really started to get moving as he helped Podgorica win the league title, scoring four goals in 20 appearances despite being just 16 years of age for most of it. This drew eyes from abroad as a result.

In June 2025, Kostić completed his move to Serbian club Partizan, penning a five-year deal. They even gave him the No.9 shirt, and he began repaying that trust by scoring off the bench in injury time on his debut in July, during 1-0 away win over Železničar Pančevo.

Fast forward a few weeks and Kostic had netted a brace after coming off the bench in a 7–2 away league victory against Napredak Kruševac. Milan were watching him closely by this point, and he would end his first season in Serbia with 12 goals in all competitions, a great return for a teenager.

At international level, Kostić holds dual Montenegrin and Serbian citizenship meaning he can choose to play for either. However, his allegiance seems to be with Dejan Savicevic’s country, as he helped Montenegro earn a spot in the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.

He has played 87 minutes across four appearances for the senior Montenegro national team, who are managed by none other than former Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic.

Strengths and weaknesses

Kostić consistently takes a soft, cushioned first touch with the inside of his boot, allowing him to keep the ball close and maintain control even under pressure. This refined technique prevents the ball from running away from him and gives him more time to assess his next action.

When carrying possession, he frequently uses the outside of his boot to alter the ball’s trajectory and shift into a different lane, helping him evade pressure while maintaining his forward momentum.

This combination of close control and subtle manipulation makes him a composed and effective ball carrier.

Kostić consistently takes a soft, cushioned first touch with the inside of his boot, allowing him to keep the ball close and maintain control even under pressure. This refined technique prevents the ball from running away from him and gives him more time to assess his next… pic.twitter.com/SkT8M4lVj5

— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 14, 2026

Kostić generally takes a minimal number of touches, preferring to move the ball quickly rather than dwell in possession. His first instinct is to progress play, whether through a forward pass, a carry, or a quick combination with a teammate, ensuring attacks maintain their tempo.

Although naturally stronger on his right foot, he is also capable of using his left effectively, with his weaker-foot passing being reliable enough to prevent opponents from forcing him onto one side.

When the opposition employ a man-oriented press and one of Kostić’s teammates is left without a passing option, he instinctively drops short to offer an outlet. By creating a new passing lane, he helps his teammate escape pressure and disrupts the opposition’s pressing structure.

His movement not only provides a safe passing option but also forces defenders to adjust their positioning, creating space elsewhere for his team to exploit.

Kostić regularly positions himself in the channel between the opposition full-back and centre-back, occupying both defenders simultaneously. By holding this position, he pins the back line deeper and discourages them from stepping forward to compress space.

This creates more room between the lines for his teammates to receive possession and helps his team sustain attacks by preventing the opposition from pushing their defensive block higher up the pitch.

Kostić’s positioning between the opposition centre-backs, combined with his constant scanning, gives him a significant advantage when timing runs in behind the defence.

By continuously assessing both the defensive line and the movement of the ball, he knows exactly when to exploit the space behind the back line.

As he begins his run, he expertly orients his body to keep the play within his field of vision, allowing him to track the passer and the ball simultaneously.

This body orientation enables him to adjust his movement, attack the pass at the right moment, and receive the ball in stride without breaking his momentum.

Kostić possesses the agility to change direction quickly, supported by sharp reflexes and explosive footwork. This allows him to escape the cover shadow of defenders and move into pockets of space at the right moment.

His movements inside and around the penalty area reflect the instincts of a natural centre-forward, as he consistently looks to exploit defensive blind spots and arrive in dangerous positions to finish attacking moves.

Kostić possesses the agility to change direction quickly, supported by sharp reflexes and explosive footwork. This allows him to escape the cover shadow of defenders and move into pockets of space at the right moment. His movements inside and around the penalty area reflect the… pic.twitter.com/DDYJY751UT

— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 14, 2026

Kostić employs a varied shooting technique, most commonly striking the ball with an instep drive to generate power and accuracy. He also uses the toe-punt effectively, particularly in situations where he needs to get a shot away quickly with minimal backlift.

This combination allows him to adapt his finishing to different scenarios, making him capable of producing powerful efforts from distance as well as instinctive finishes in crowded areas.

Kostić employs a varied shooting technique, most commonly striking the ball with an instep drive to generate power and accuracy. He also uses the toe-punt effectively, particularly in situations where he needs to get a shot away quickly with minimal backlift. This combination… pic.twitter.com/Hyykvgidr5

— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 14, 2026

Kostić is constantly demanding the ball when making runs in behind, showing confidence in his movement and a willingness to take responsibility in decisive moments.

One of the best examples of his mentality came in Partizan Belgrade’s match against Hibernian, where he scored with virtually the last kick of the game to force extra time.

That moment highlighted not only his intelligent movement but also his exceptional mental fortitude and never-say-die attitude, as he continued to believe an opportunity would arise until the final whistle.

Areas to improve

Kostić’s physicality is an area that requires further development. At times, he can be eased off the ball too readily by stronger defenders, which limits his ability to hold up play and retain possession under pressure.

Improving his upper-body strength and balance would make him more effective in duels and allow him to bring teammates into play more consistently.

His anticipation and positional awareness in the final third also have room for improvement. There are occasions when he could make more proactive movements to provide additional passing options for the player in possession.

Better timing and more varied off-the-ball runs would not only increase his involvement in attacking phases but also create greater uncertainty for defenders and open up spaces for his teammates.

Stats

Kostić profiles as a traditional penalty-box striker who prioritises occupying the opposition’s back line and attacking goalscoring positions rather than dropping deep to influence build-up.

Averaging 2.93 shots on target per 90, he is a high-volume shooter who consistently tests the goalkeeper. His 0.43 xG per 90 indicates that he regularly gets into promising scoring positions, although there is still room to improve his chance generation and conversion.

With just 16.83 accurate passes per 90, Kostić is not a striker who dictates possession or contributes heavily to build-up play.

Instead, his game revolves around stretching the defensive line and finishing moves. His 13.64 passes received per 90 further reinforces this, suggesting he rarely drops into deeper areas and prefers to operate on the shoulder of the last defender.

Defensively, 2.35 recoveries in the opposition half per 90 demonstrate a willingness to press and regain possession high up the pitch.

However, he must improve his ball retention, as 11.76 losses in his own half per 90 can hand the opposition dangerous transition opportunities. His 1.88 successful dribbles per 90 also indicate that carrying the ball past opponents is not a major feature of his game.

Conclusion

With Kostic it is a similar story to a lot of the young players that Milan have signed in the past few years with impressive records: the raw materials are there to make it, but it is about refining those rough edges.

What will be crucial with the Montenegrin is his management, especially given that Milan have another teenage striker they need to plan correctly for in Francesco Camarda. As such, it will be interesting to see where he is come the start of September.

Final rating: 6.5/10