Five Nigerians to have played for AC Milan: Will Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze be the next?

AC Milan are on the verge of welcoming their sixth Nigerian player in the club’s storied history, as negotiations are underway with Villarreal to secure the services of Samuel Chukwueze.

The Italian giants have reportedly reached an agreement on personal terms with the talented winger, and now the focus is on finalising the deal with his current club.

Looking back at the Nigerians who have donned the famous red and black jersey of AC Milan, it is evident that their experiences varied in terms of success and impact.

Aliyu Datti was the first Nigerian to make his way to Milan. After starting his career at Padova, he arrived at AC Milan in January 1999.

However, his time at the club was short-lived, as he spent a portion of his three-year stint on loan at Calcio Monza.

Datti played only three games for Milan without finding the back of the net before departing for AC Siena in 2002.

Taribo West followed a different path, joining Inter Milan in 1997 before making a sensational switch to AC Milan in December 1999.

West became one of the few players to feature for both Milan clubs. Unfortunately, his time at AC Milan was brief, as he made just four appearances and scored one goal before leaving for FC K’lautern in November 2001.

Kingsley Umunegbu, a product of Milan’s youth system, made his official debut in December 2007.

However, his appearances for the club were limited, and he was loaned out to several teams, including Salernitana, Portogruaro, Varese, and Renate.

Umunegbu never had the opportunity to play in a league game for Milan, although he did return briefly to fill in the second non-EU spot during the 2011-12 season.

Nnamdi Oduamadi’s journey to AC Milan began in 2008, although his official signing was delayed until January 2009 due to administrative reasons.

Despite spending two seasons in the club’s youth system and being part of the under-20 side that won the Coppa Italia Primavera in 2010, Oduamadi had limited opportunities with the first team.

He made only one appearance during his time at Milan, coming off the bench in a league game against Catania in September 2010. Oduamadi eventually left Milan in 2018, following loan spells at various clubs.

Taiye Taiwo, who arrived in Milan from Marseille in 2011, had a difficult time in Italy.

After struggling to make an impact, he was loaned to QPR in January 2012, only to return to Milan a few months later.

Another loan move, this time to Dynamo Kyiv, followed in July. Taiwo’s underwhelming stint in Italy ended when he joined Bursaspor in 2013, having played just four Serie A games in total.

As negotiations continue for Samuel Chukwueze’s potential arrival, fans will hope his time at AC Milan will bring more success and lasting memories.