Christian Pulisic’s New Deal Forever Links His Legacy to AC Milan
· Yahoo Sports
Christian Pulisic has signed a new contract that will keep him at AC Milan until 2031. It is a well-deserved renewal and a career-defining moment for the American winger.
Christian Pulisic is staying put at AC Milan. The 28-year-old American winger will remain under contract with the Rossoneri until June 2031, earning a pay rise to €6.5 million net per year, with the figure potentially reaching €10 million if he achieves certain objectives. However you look at it, Pulisic is now one of AC Milan’s highest-paid players and among the top earners in Serie A, alongside Lautaro Martínez, Nicolò Barella, Kevin De Bruyne, and Kenan Yıldız.
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All of this comes on the heels of Gerry Cardinale, founder and managing partner of RedBird Capital Partners and owner of AC Milan since August 2022, telling CBS Sports: “We have a connection. We’re two guys from Pennsylvania trying to find our way and understand Italy. He’s Captain America, but he’s also my franchise player.”
That is an important milestone for an American playing in Europe, particularly one who has already represented three major clubs. Today, Pulisic can look in the mirror and know that his career will be defined by his time at AC Milan, much like Clint Dempsey’s was defined by Fulham or Tim Howard’s by Everton. Pulisic is a Rossoneri player, and for American soccer, that is a remarkable achievement.
Pulisic’s Numbers: Not Just Impressive, But a Benchmark
The tale of the tape for Pulisic at AC Milan deserves a standing ovation at the San Siro: 45 goals and 28 assists in 144 games. He has also scored four goals against Inter in all competitions, which puts him ahead of Milan legends including Marco van Basten, George Weah, and Ronaldinho.
At the UEFA Champions League level, Pulisic has scored five goals, one of which was an Olimpico against Club Brugge. His longest scoring streak has been four consecutive games, a run that included goals against Venezia, Inter and Lecce in Serie A, as well as a Champions League goal against Liverpool.
With 45 goals to his name, his tally in Rossoneri stripes surpasses those of Oliver Bierhoff, Robinho, Ronaldinho, Andrea Pirlo, Stephan El Shaarawy, Roberto Donadoni, and Roberto Baggio.
The only blemish on Pulisic’s statistics at Milan has been the lack of silverware, with the American having won just one Supercoppa Italiana during his four seasons at the club. That has not been entirely his fault, as Milan have gone through a huge coaching carousel during that period while struggling to find their identity and establish consistency.
With Pulisic’s contract approaching its expiration before the renewal, one of the main talking points in Italy was that he could go down as a very good player whose time at the club would ultimately be remembered more for turmoil than success.
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That narrative is beginning to change. His new contract, combined with a recent derby victory and goal over Inter, has put AC Milan in fifth place in Serie A. It was also a statement win that will hopefully propel the team toward finally ending its Scudetto drought.
A Redemption Song
Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Imagesf
For Pulisic, his recent contract renewal at AC Milan, his impressive headed goal against Inter, and an upcoming November camp with the United States men’s national team could officially mark the beginning of a redemption song for the best American soccer player of all time.
After receiving unwarranted and, at times, over-the-top criticism for the USMNT’s collapse at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it seems Pulisic ended up paying for the perceived sin of not being a “poster boy” for U.S. Soccer, something the introverted player has never been particularly comfortable with.
Nonetheless, to think that the 2030 USMNT World Cup cycle can genuinely move forward without Pulisic is insane. The winger remains fundamental to the United States’ chances, even with his sometimes complicated relationship with manager Mauricio Pochettino.
For those who have clamored to see a more committed Pulisic, the proof is finally there. A contract renewal at AC Milan represents a defining moment for an American soccer player at one of the top teams in the world. With a new World Cup cycle starting to take shape, this could be exactly what U.S. fans want to see from their golden boy: a complete rejuvenation.
At 28, Pulisic may have already won a Champions League, scored at a World Cup, and helped take down Mexico on several occasions. But make no mistake: Pulisic is a Rossoneri player for the long term, and that represents uncharted territory once again for an American player. It is hardly a surprise that Christian Pulisic is the one navigating those waters.