Credit: Imago

Max Wilkins

Fri 13 March 2026 7:10, UK

Niclas Fullkrug joined AC Milan in the January transfer window after a nightmare spell at West Ham United.

The Germany international joined the Hammers back in the summer of 2024 after reaching the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund.

He featured as the Yellow Wall witnessed a heavy defeat to Real Madrid at Wembley, and it’s safe to say that things only got worse for the striker from there.

The 33-year-old scored just three goals in claret and blue as injuries took a massive toll on his stint at the London Stadium.

His Hammers woes came to an end when Fullkrug joined AC Milan on loan in the summer, but how is he getting on at San Siro?

Niclas Fullkrug is struggling for form at AC Milan

It came as a surprise to many when the flop number nine signing got a move to the Rossoneri after such a poor spell in East London.

His experience in Germany clearly made him an attractive prospect, having netted 61 goals for Werder Bremen and Dortmund combined across five years.

That seems to have been enough for Milan to take a chance on the forward as they sat second in Serie A at the time.

Fullkrug has only gone on to score one goal for the Italian giants, while his side remain in the same league position behind bitter rivals Inter.

That is hardly a surprise based on his West Ham record, although he can’t truly be blamed after being limited to just 335 minutes.

Just one of his 12 league appearances in red and black has come as a start, with his place in the XI lasting just 60 minutes against Fiorentina in mid-January.

Fullkrug’s place at AC Milan now hangs in the balance, with a permanent switch now looking increasingly unlikely.

Fullkrug set for West Ham return in the summer

Although the striker can’t truly be blamed for his San Siro struggles, it isn’t going to serve him well ahead of a potential summer transfer.

Milan hold an option to make the deal for the German permanent in the summer as part of their loan agreement with the Irons.

Reports in Italy point to a £4.3million move from West Ham looking increasingly unlikely ahead of the summer.

That comes due to his place in the pecking order under Max Allegri and his lack of goals since moving to the Serie A in January.

He could now hand Nuno Espirito Santo’s side a decision to make over his future in the summer, with an East London return now in the pipeline.