AC Milan have continued reshaping their squad for the 2026-27 season by completing the signing of Spanish defender Nerea Nevado from Athletic Club, just days after confirming the arrival of Norwegian striker Sara Kanutte.
The 25-year-old has signed a contract until June 2028 and becomes Milan’s second major addition of the summer, suggesting the Rossonere are building with balance by strengthening both ends of the pitch.
While Kanutte was recruited to increase Milan’s attacking firepower, Nevado arrives to reinforce a defence that will face another demanding campaign in both domestic and European competition.
Transfer Snapshot
Player: Nerea Nevado
Age: 25
Position: Defender
From: Athletic Club
To: AC Milan
Contract: Until June 2028
A New Defensive Option From Liga F
Nevado arrives after spending almost a decade within Athletic Club’s system. Having joined the Basque club as a teenager in 2016, she developed through the academy before making more than 100 appearances for Athletic’s reserve side. A loan spell at Deportivo Alavés during the 2021-22 campaign provided valuable top-flight experience before she returned to establish herself as a regular starter for Athletic’s first team.
That journey has helped shape a defender accustomed to the demands of Liga F, one of Europe’s strongest domestic competitions. Internationally, Nevado also enjoyed success with Spain’s youth teams, winning the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in 2018 as part of a generation that helped establish Spain as a dominant force in women’s football.
Milan’s Recruitment Is Becoming Clear
Nevado’s arrival comes only days after AC Milan completed the signing of Norwegian striker Sara Kanutte from Malmö FF. Although the two players occupy very different positions, together they reveal an increasingly coherent recruitment strategy.
Kanutte was signed after impressing in Sweden with her goalscoring ability, while Nevado arrives with years of experience in Spanish football and the versatility to strengthen Milan’s defensive options.
Rather than relying on established superstars, Milan appear focused on recruiting players entering the prime years of their careers who can immediately compete for starting places while continuing to develop.
Why Nerea Nevado Fits Milan
Nevado brings more than experience. Her years at Athletic Club exposed her to a possession-oriented style of football that values composure in build-up play as much as defensive reliability. Those qualities should translate well to Serie A, where tactical organisation and technical security remain essential.
Just as importantly, she offers depth across the back line. Over the course of a long season, versatility often becomes one of the most valuable qualities a defender can possess, particularly for clubs hoping to compete across multiple competitions.
Sara Kanutte Adds Goals
While Nevado strengthens Milan defensively, Kanutte was recruited with a different objective.
The Norwegian forward arrives after successful spells in Norway and Sweden, including productive campaigns with IFK Norrköping and Malmö FF. Earlier in her career she also developed at Rosenborg after an extraordinary start in Norway’s lower divisions, where she scored 50 goals in just 27 appearances.
Her finishing ability gives Milan another attacking option capable of increasing competition in the final third. Together, the two signings address key areas of the squad without dramatically increasing the average age of the team.
Why These Transfers Matter
Neither Nerea Nevado nor Sara Kanutte arrives with the global profile of some of Europe’s biggest names. However, successful transfer windows are rarely built on headline signings alone.
By recruiting an experienced defender from Liga F alongside a prolific Scandinavian forward, AC Milan appear to be targeting players who have already demonstrated consistent performances in competitive European leagues.
If both adapt quickly to Italian football, the Rossonere may look back on these deals as two of the smartest pieces of business completed this summer.
Source: AC Milan
Leave a Reply