MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 2: Kyle Walker of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 2, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
England defender Kyle Walker has admitted that he “probably” should not have joined Milan on loan for the second half of the 2024-25 season, but insists he has “no regrets” about his temporary move to the San Siro: “I always wanted to play abroad, I’m glad I did for the six months.”
Walker, now with Burnley in the Premier League, left Manchester City midway through the 2024-25 campaign to join Milan on loan with an option to buy during the winter transfer window.
The 2024-25 campaign was not a season that Milan, nor Walker, will remember fondly.
Although Walker had been Manchester City’s captain, he had fallen out of favor with Pep Guardiola and was allowed to leave the club midway through the campaign. Milan, meanwhile, finished eighth in Serie A that season and, as a result, missed out on qualifying for any UEFA competition.
What Walker said about the Milan loan
Walker was expected to be a significant upgrade on Emerson Royal at Milan’s right-back, but his performances did not convince Milan to activate their purchase option and he was allowed to return to the UK during the summer.
“Should I have left? Looking at it now, probably not, I should have stayed next to my teammates, next to my friends and the people I class as my family,” Walker admitted in a recent interview with Sky Sports.
“But, probably for the first time in my career, I was selfish,” he continued. “I thought about myself and wanted to play football. I don’t see it as a bad reason, but I wasn’t happy to sit on the bench and get a game here or there whenever I could.
“I felt like I still had something to prove, I felt like I could still play football at a high level and when a club like AC Milan comes along, I didn’t think I could turn them down knowing I was on the bench.”
Despite his move to Milan not going entirely to plan, Walker insists he has no regrets. He also feels that Milan’s season, collectively, was a season to forget and move on.
“But again, I have no regrets because I always wanted to play abroad and I always wanted to experience playing abroad. I’ve experienced it, but I’m glad I made it through the six months.”
“I probably could have done a little better too, but I think everyone associated with the club would probably put their hand up and say ‘that was a season to put behind us’ and they’ve started quite well. I still have friends there and I keep an eye on their results.”
🗣️ “Looking back I shouldn’t have left, but for the first time in my career I was selfish”
Kyle Walker says he was “selfish” to leave Manchester City last season and join AC Milan on loan. pic.twitter.com/qLYdgGK42F
– Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 11, 2025