The final days of the 2026 January window are upon us, with AC Milan evaluating various opportunities. Taking a look back at last year, it’s clear that a lot can happen towards the end.
All month long, fans have been asking the management to sign a centre-back. Niclas Füllkrug was brought in early and thus solved the ’emergency’ up front, but Milan have been very quiet since. Or rather, they had been very quiet up until Friday.
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Now, there’s talk of Jean-Philippe Mateta and a couple of other targets. If we look back at how the January window unfolded a year ago, it’s clear that a lot can change in the final days and hours. Not just on the departures front either.
Timings of the 2025 January signings
Starting with Santiago Gimenez, who was the big-money signing of the month, he was announced by the club on February 3, but the ‘here we go’ arrived a day before. The concrete links also started on January 21.
Moving on to the experienced Kyle Walker, he was announced on January 24, but the first concrete rumour dates back to January 11. In short, while it took a week after that for the rumours to heat up, the Rossoneri had at least been monitoring him for a few weeks.
Joao Felix was a similar story to Walker, really, as the first report emerged on January 17 but the interest didn’t really take off until February 1st. Then, Milan announced the player a day after deadline day, even if it was completed the day before.
Now we are getting to the interesting parts. Warren Bondo, who’s currently on loan at Cremonese, had been linked with the club several times throughout the years before the move. However, the transfer came to life in the final hours of deadline day.
In fact, Bondo’s agent got a call late on deadline day and had to rush to Casa Milan for the deal to be completed. The interest was hinted at on January 2, but the actual negotiations started on deadline day and were wrapped up quickly.
The proper deadline day signing of that window was Riccardo Sottil. The winger arrived on loan from Fiorentina and prior to the reports that basically said it was a done deal, there had been no indications whatsoever of the move.
The documents were handed in with just seconds to spare, so the Italian definitely takes the price as far as late ideas go. The point of all of the above, though, is that a lot can happen in the final days and especially on deadline day. Not always, but it does happen.
This was in part on the scouting department. I clearly wrote that Felix was crap and anyone who watched CFC play knew it, and the Walker had lost a step or two which was his main strenght. He was never much of a technical player and couldn’t hit a cross to save his life. The other two I had no opinion on. That said, expensive panic buys are beyond stupid.
Mateta and Disasy are great players so that will be great if come now. Last year was disaster at all and i dont knoq why you compare
Mateta a great player?? Half of his goals are penalties this season and he has been trash. Do you see any team chasing him??
I really hope we don’t sign him and instead buy a proper wing back.