AC Milan Lead Race for Super Eagles Midfielder Christantus Uche as Everton, Real Betis Circle

Nigeria international Christantus Uche has become one of the more closely monitored midfielders on the summer transfer market, with AC Milan, Real Betis, and Everton all reportedly tracking the 23-year-old ahead of a potential move away from Getafe.

According to reports, AC Milan are leading the pursuit, having first registered serious interest in Uche as far back as August 2025. The Serie A club’s renewed effort to land the Super Eagles midfielder places them ahead of LaLiga side Real Betis and Premier League outfit Everton, both of whom are also said to be actively monitoring his situation.

Uche is expected to return to Getafe at the end of June 2026 after a season-long loan at Crystal Palace failed to produce the results either party had hoped for. While Getafe manager José Bordalás is reportedly open to reintegrating the midfielder into his squad, club president Ángel Torres has signalled a different direction. “If there’s an offer and we agree on it, we’ll sell him,” Torres told the press, effectively confirming that the Spanish club will entertain permanent offers this summer.

The breakdown of Uche’s time at Crystal Palace centres on the club’s failure to activate a conditional €20 million purchase obligation that was built into his September 2025 loan agreement. That clause required the Nigerian to make 10 Premier League starts — a threshold he never reached under manager Oliver Glasner. Uche made 14 substitute appearances in the league without registering a single start, leaving the buy clause untriggered and his future unresolved.

The frustration eventually spilled into the public domain. In May, Uche voiced his discontent, claiming that Glasner “doesn’t like me” following a decision to leave him out of Crystal Palace’s UEFA Europa Conference League knockout stage squad — an omission that drew considerable attention given the midfielder’s profile as a senior Nigeria international.

The episode at Selhurst Park represents a significant setback for a player who had been regarded as one of Nigeria’s more promising midfield talents. Uche has featured for the Super Eagles and was part of the squad that participated in recent international fixtures, giving him a level of visibility that continues to attract European clubs despite his difficult club season.

AC Milan’s interest is particularly notable given the Italian club’s recent pattern of targeting young African talent with proven top-flight exposure. Real Betis, currently under pressure to refresh their squad ahead of another LaLiga campaign, and Everton, who are navigating their own period of transition under new ownership, both represent credible destinations, though sources suggest Milan remain the frontrunners at this stage.

With Getafe having publicly declared their willingness to sell and Uche’s loan at Crystal Palace set to formally expire, the coming weeks are likely to prove decisive in determining where the 23-year-old midfielder will play his football next season.