Samuel Chukwueze’s summer of transfer speculation has come to an abrupt end, with new AC Milan head coach Ruben Amorim confirming the Nigerian winger will remain at the club this season.

Chukwueze had looked set for an exit after returning from a season-long loan at Fulham, with both the Premier League club and Turkish side Trabzonspor pushing hard to sign him. Speaking at his first official press conference at Casa Milan alongside club owner Gerry Cardinale, Amorim put the speculation to rest, saying simply, “Chukwueze will stay with us.”

The Portuguese coach explained that he values players comfortable in one-on-one situations, a description he felt fit Chukwueze well, and said he preferred to first assess the options already available within the squad before looking to bring in fresh faces from outside the club.

The stance marks a clear shift from Milan’s position earlier in the summer, when the club had been open to selling Chukwueze to help fund other transfer business. Amorim’s arrival, and his belief that the 27 year old’s directness and pace suit his preferred back-three systems, has changed that calculation.

Fulham had a reported €26 million option to make Chukwueze’s move permanent after his loan spell, in which he scored three goals and set up four more in 23 appearances, but the London club chose not to trigger it and instead tried to negotiate a cheaper fee, talks that ultimately broke down. Trabzonspor then stepped in with a formal €15 million bid, but it was turned away, with Chukwueze himself said to prefer staying in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

With AC Milan’s pre-season set to begin on July 13, Chukwueze is now expected to report back to the club as a key part of Amorim’s squad heading into the new campaign.