Zachary Athekame has already played his last game for Young Boys, and AC Milan expect to complete his signing this week.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) this morning, the 13 minutes that Athekame played on Sunday in Bern against Sion – a game which ended 0-0 – on matchday four of the Swiss league are expected to be his last for Young Boys.
Milan are confident they have secured the Swiss full-back and the plan is for him to arrive in Italy this week to undergo the usual medical and then sign a contract until June 2029, with the option of a further year in favour of the club.
The deal will cost €10.5m, including bonuses, with the player’s willingness to sign having played a key role in negotiations between the clubs. Athekame, in fact, has rejected the advances of a French club for Milan.
The 20-year-old is liked for his versatility: started out as a winger, but in recent years he has steadily transformed into a full-back in a back four. Massimiliano Allegri will therefore be able to use him both on the right side of a back four or as a wing-back in a five-man midfield, as cover for Alexis Saelemaekers.
