AC Milan have confirmed that England international Kyle Walker has undergone surgery after fracturing his right elbow during training. The 34-year-old full-back, who joined the Rossoneri on loan from Manchester City in January, is now set for a spell on the sidelines as he begins rehabilitation.
In an official statement released by the club, Milan said, “AC Milan can confirm that Kyle Walker sustained a fracture in his right elbow today. To ensure better healing and optimize recovery time, the player underwent surgery in Milan to repair the olecranon through osteosynthesis. The operation went perfectly to plan. Kyle will begin rehabilitation immediately.”
The timing of the injury is a blow for Milan, who are pushing for a European spot in Serie A and remain in contention for the Coppa Italia. Currently ninth in the league and seven points adrift of the sixth-placed Europa Conference League spot, the Rossoneri are facing a critical final stretch of the season. With just seven games remaining, it’s unclear whether Walker will recover in time to feature again before the campaign ends.
Walker has made 12 appearances in all competitions since arriving at the San Siro, including eight in Serie A. Despite the team’s struggles, he has impressed individually, ranking first among Milan players with five or more league appearances for both interceptions per 90 minutes (1.05) and possession won per 90 (5.96).
The setback also complicates Milan’s decision on whether to make Walker’s loan move permanent in the summer. Reports suggest the club's management has reservations about committing to a full transfer, primarily due to the defender’s age and high salary. Now, with an injury added to the equation, doubts over his long-term future at the club are likely to intensify.
Walker arrived at Milan following a difficult final stretch at Manchester City, where he had not started a game since mid-December. His move to Italy marked the end of a highly successful spell at City, where he won six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League under Pep Guardiola.
As Milan prepares for upcoming fixtures against Udinese and Atalanta, head coach Sergio Conceicao will hope his team can stay in the hunt for European qualification potentially giving Walker a chance to contribute again before the season concludes. However, with time running out, his return remains uncertain.
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