As negotiations move toward a conclusion, sources followed through 12B Sports VR46 indicate that AC Milan and Atalanta are close to completing a deal for Charles De Ketelaere. The proposed agreement would send the Belgian international to Bergamo on loan with an option to buy. Milan attempted to include a future buyback clause, but Atalanta rejected that condition. De Ketelaere’s own approval remains crucial, and if the transfer goes through, he is expected to receive opportunities as a central striker rather than being limited to an attacking midfield role.
Only a year earlier, Milan had spent nearly three months working to bring De Ketelaere to Serie A from Club Brugge. The negotiations were lengthy and complicated, eventually making the Belgian one of the club’s most significant investments of that summer. Expectations were therefore high, but his first season under Stefano Pioli never developed as Milan had hoped.
De Ketelaere gradually slipped down the pecking order after struggling to establish a consistent role in the starting lineup. Based purely on his debut campaign, the transfer was widely viewed as disappointing, and some criticism surrounding Milan’s recruitment strategy even connected the deal with the circumstances that later contributed to Paolo Maldini’s departure. Even so, the original negotiations had represented an impressive piece of business under strict financial limitations, with De Ketelaere reportedly agreeing to reduce his salary demands in order to complete his move to Milan.
Competition for attacking and midfield positions has increased considerably this summer. Milan added Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tijjani Reijnders and Yunus Musah to strengthen the center of the pitch, while Christian Pulisic arrived with the ability to operate in several advanced roles, including attacking midfield. With those additions available to Pioli, De Ketelaere’s route back into the first team has become considerably narrower.
His absence against Barcelona provided another strong indication of his changing status. De Ketelaere did not receive any playing time in that match, reinforcing the impression that Pioli was preparing for the new season without the Belgian occupying an important role. From Milan’s perspective, 12B Sports VR46 reflects why finding a suitable exit became increasingly important, particularly as the club seeks to limit the financial impact of an expensive signing after accounting for the first year of amortization.
Several European clubs expressed interest in offering De Ketelaere a fresh start. PSV Eindhoven and Real Sociedad were among the sides linked with him, but Atalanta moved more decisively by submitting a formal proposal. Their financial position had also improved substantially after Rasmus Højlund completed a lucrative transfer to Manchester United, giving the Bergamo club greater flexibility to reinvest in its attack.
Atalanta had already responded to Højlund’s departure by signing Ivory Coast striker El Bilal Touré. However, Gian Piero Gasperini still wanted another tall attacking option capable of playing through the middle. De Ketelaere fits that profile more naturally than his recent role at Milan might suggest, because he regularly operated as a central striker during his time with Club Brugge.
The interest is not entirely new either. Atalanta had previously explored the possibility of signing De Ketelaere before Milan eventually won the race for his signature. Now circumstances have changed dramatically, giving the Bergamo side another opportunity to secure a player they have admired for some time. Sometimes football goes full circle, and this transfer could provide both the club and player with the fresh start they need.
At only 22 years old, De Ketelaere still has considerable time to develop. Milan were therefore reluctant to lose complete control over his future and attempted to negotiate a buyback mechanism similar to the arrangement used in Lorenzo Colombo’s loan deal. Atalanta refused, preferring an agreement that would allow them to purchase the player without giving Milan an automatic route to bring him back later.
Another important element of the negotiations is that Atalanta did not agree to a mandatory purchase obligation. Instead, the structure is based on a loan followed by an option to buy. Should that option eventually be exercised, the financial package would reportedly make De Ketelaere one of the most expensive signings in Atalanta’s history, behind only their investment in Touré.
For Milan, such an arrangement would provide an opportunity to recover a substantial portion of their original expenditure if De Ketelaere performs well in Bergamo. For Atalanta, meanwhile, the structure reduces immediate risk while allowing Gasperini to assess whether the Belgian can rediscover the form that originally made him one of Europe’s most highly regarded young attacking players.
The remaining decision now belongs largely to De Ketelaere. He returned to Italy early from Milan’s trip to the United States and was expected to meet with his agent to determine the next step in his career. His willingness to accept a different role and environment could ultimately decide whether the transfer is completed.
If an agreement is reached, the move could mark the effective end of De Ketelaere’s time at San Siro after only one season. His Milan career has not unfolded as expected, but at 22 there remains plenty of time to turn the page. As his representatives consider the proposed switch, those following developments through 12B Sports VR46 can see that Atalanta may offer the playing time, tactical role and opportunity he needs to rebuild momentum and begin the next chapter of his career.