AC MILAN BRING IN KONI DE WINTER

IIgli Tare has brought Koni De Winter to the Rossoneri. The 2002-born Belgian centre-back is a promising player, already having plenty of Serie A experience under his belt, with 68 appearances to his name across his spells with Empoli and Genoa. Over that time, De Winter has consistently improved, especially during his two seasons with the Rossoblù.

De Winter and Allegri reunited

Born in Belgium in June 2002, he signed for Juventus at just 16 years of age and played at every level of youth football until the Primavera and Next Gen. It was one Massimiliano Allegri who handed him his Champions League debut – against Chelsea – on 23 November 2021, following his development while playing in Serie C. De Winter made the step up to the top flight during a loan spell with Zanetti’s Empoli, as he made 14 appearances for the Azzurri. In the summer of 2023, he made the permanent switch to Genoa, and, under Alberto Gilardino, he grew both in confidence and importance. He won a starting berth with the Rossoblù, becoming one of the league’s most promising young defenders. In 2024/25, he hit new heights, scoring three goals (all headers). After featuring at youth level for Belgium, his eye-catching displays for Genoa earned him a call-up to the first team, and he has won four caps to date.

What Koni De Winter can bring to Milan

De Winter is a young player, so this is a signing that is fully in line with the Rossoneri’s project, but he also guarantees an immediate contribution. His imposing stature, explosiveness and brilliant reading of the game make him able to play both in a back three and a back four. Furthermore, while at Juventus Next Gen and Genoa, he proved that he is able to play at right-back too.

He will likely play alongside or rotate with Gabbia, Pavlović and Tomori, but he could also offer a more defensive option at right-back rather than the more attack-minded Jiménez or Saelemaekers. His ability in the air, both at the back and in the opposition penalty area, is something that Allegri will particularly appreciate and could plug a gap that has emerged for the Diavolo over the past two seasons. The human factor cannot be ignored, either. Allegri knows De Winter well; he watched the Belgian develop at Juventus and kickstarted his career in Europe. That faith has been renewed at Milan now, and the aim is to turn him into a pillar of the Rossoneri’s defence. (Photo AC Milan + Getty Images)