Nkunku reveals why he returned to Leipzig after Chelsea, Milan struggles

by · The Eagle Online

Christopher Nkunku has opened up on his decision to return to RB Leipzig, admitting he reached a point where he needed to rediscover his enjoyment of football after difficult spells at Chelsea and AC Milan.

The 28-year-old Frenchman returned to Leipzig on a season-long loan from Milan this summer after three challenging years away from Germany.

Nkunku made an immediate impact on his return, helping Leipzig to a 5-0 victory over Hamburger SV and scoring his first goal for the club since the 2023 DFB-Pokal final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Speaking about his decision to return to the club where he previously won the Bundesliga Player of the Season award, Nkunku said the move was the right choice for him.

Nkunku told Bulinews: “In my situation, I need to enjoy football again, to just think about football, play games and be on the pitch to do what I want to do. It was the best option for me.”

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He added: “At the moment, it was the best option for me.

“When I spoke with the coach and the management, we were all convinced that this season would be good for me and for the club also. We didn’t hesitate one moment and pushed for the deal.”

Nkunku’s move to Chelsea in 2023 for a reported £52 million was expected to mark the beginning of a successful spell at Stamford Bridge, but a serious knee injury suffered during a pre-season tour of the United States disrupted his first campaign.

The injury kept him out for most of his debut season and prevented him from properly integrating with his new teammates.

Nkunku said: “It’s about timing, because when I arrived, everything was going well.

“But then I had surgery for the first time at the end of pre-season.

“That’s not a good moment for a player, because you need to finish your pre-season.

“I didn’t start the season with the team.

“For me, it was also a new club with new teammates.

“When you’re injured, it’s complicated to get to know your teammates.”

He added: “So after that, I wanted to come back fast. I didn’t listen to my body, because I was young and wanted to come back fast and play and train with the squad.

“So after that, I had a lot of small injuries, like muscle injuries. 

“So the first season wasn’t good when it came to my condition and physical problems.”

Although Nkunku scored 18 goals during his Chelsea tenure, his move to Milan in 2025 did not provide the change he had hoped for.

He said the tactical demands of Serie A were also difficult, particularly because of the emphasis on defensive organisation and protecting a lead.

Nkunku said: “In Italy, I think teams play not to concede goals. 

“It’s more defensive. After one team scores, it’s complicated to score. 

“And even the team who scored the first goal doesn’t think about scoring a second one. 

“It’s very, very difficult.”

He added: “I saw it last year. It was very difficult because I was always thinking about going up to score, but you needed to stay behind to protect your goal.

“Of course, if you think individually, you’re frustrated. But we play football. It’s a collective sport, so you need to think about the squad and to do what the coach wants and to reach the target of the idea.”

Nkunku is also targeting a return to the France national team after injury problems and inconsistent playing time in England and Italy disrupted his international ambitions.

The forward said he believes regular football and strong performances at Leipzig could put him back in contention despite the competition for places in the France squad.

Nkunku said: “Of course it’s a target. Even before, it was a target.

“You know the quality of the squad, and I can reach this for sure, but it’s about timing and also to be able to play game by game and to be decisive.”

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