Although AC Milan acquired 34-year-old Manchester City star Kyle Walker this winter on loan and have plugged and played him into the starting position, it’s hard envisioning the former England international being any kind of a long-term solution for the Rossoneri despite rumors stating otherwise.
Walker is, more or less, a lateral move from Davide Calabria with more pedigree. He is a solution in comparison to only Emerson Royal, who was, predictably, a disastrous signing.
Milan need something better than Walker going forward, even if they can get Walker on a cheap, stopgap type deal. Here are five players Milan should consider signing in the summer 2025 transfer window at right back.
Arnau Martinez, Girona
Arnau Martinez has fallen compared to where he was valued a couple of years ago as a teenage breakout star in LaLiga, and the same can be said for a lot of his teammates at Girona, whose stocks are fallen now that the Catalan club are well out of any sort of title discussion.
A versatile right back who can tuck inside like a midfielder, Martinez is still only 21 years old and is a capable two-way right back who can win possession, progress the ball, and even create good chances for his teammates.
Anthony Caci, Mainz
Mainz are the Bundesliga’s surprise side this season, and it seems like they are good for a threat to qualify for Europe every five years or so. Well, Mainz are in the Champions League conversation and have flourished whereas German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have floundered.
Anthony Caci has been one of the main protagonists for the southern side. The 27-year-old Frenchman is enjoying his prime years with seven assists and nearly three combined tackles and interceptions per game as both an elite creator and defender at the position. He could be a diamond in the rough.
Dodo, Fiorentina
It may seem crazy to say it, but Dodo has been one of the most valuable and unsung heroes in European football this season, playing a crucial role in Fiorentina putting it all together and emerging as a side in contention for Champions League football.
The hard-working and skillful Brazilian joined Fiorentina with fanfare in 2022 after a successful career with Shakhtar Donetsk, but it took him a little bit of time to become a real threat on the right side.
Dodo is world-class with the ball at his feet when it comes to charging up the flank and starting attacks. He is averaging a hefty three combined dribbles completed and fouls drawn per game, and Milan will love the fact that he is a proven commodity in Serie A now.
Vanderson, Monaco
Vanderson has been on the radar of big clubs since the 2021/22 season when he first broke out for Monaco, who were a solid Champions League side during the current campaign.
Though a move to, say, Barcelona or Real Madrid never materialized, the 23-year-old Brazilian international remains one of the top options at right back in Europe and could be an ingenious move by AC Milan in the summer 2025 transfer window.
An excellent athlete and defensive player, Vanderson offers sufficient playmaking and well above-average ball progression. He has shown that he can bring his best performances to the table on the big stage in the Champions League, too.
Andrei Ratiu, Rayo Vallecano
Capable of going toe-to-toe with the great left wingers of LaLiga like Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior, Rayo Vallecano standout Andrei Ratiu made a name for himself at the European Championships last summer and appears ready for a bigger move.
AC Milan may have to go with a budget-friendly option at right back, and Ratiu, who was linked to Aston Villa just a couple of months ago, has been one of the best right backs in the league.
He is averaging three tackles and interceptions per game with two dribbles completed per match and five total goal contributions. Ratiu works tirelessly for the Rayo cause.
Joe Soriano covers West Ham for Green Street Hammers and writes about Real Madrid for The Real Champs. He has extensive experience covering world football since 2014. Joe is an editor for The Trivela Effect, where he covers the biggest clubs in European football. He has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.