AC Milan have triggered their counter-option to re-sign Francesco Camarda from Lecce, the clubs confirmed on Friday. The move sees the 2008-born forward return to the Rossoneri after a season-long loan spell with the Puglian side.
Lecce had recently exercised their option to purchase Camarda permanently for a fee slightly exceeding three million euros. However, Milan swiftly responded by activating their counter-option, securing his return to the San Siro for a reported four million euros. A statement from Lecce confirmed the transaction, stating that Milan had exercised their right to re-acquire the player.
Camarda made 21 appearances for Lecce across all competitions during the 2025-2026 season, scoring one goal against Bologna in September. Despite missing a significant portion of the campaign due to a shoulder injury, Lecce had been keen to retain his services. The quick turnaround demonstrates Milan’s commitment to bringing the promising talent back into their system.
Camarda will officially rejoin the Milan squad on July 1st, 2026. The club will now assess his development under new manager Ruben Amorim during pre-season training. Several other Serie A clubs have reportedly expressed interest in taking Camarda on loan, potentially offering him more consistent first-team opportunities. His return provides Milan with a valuable young asset and adds depth to their attacking options, while also potentially creating a future transfer profit.
Milan are also currently working on restructuring their club organization following the rejection of Markus Krosche, who chose to remain at Eintracht Frankfurt despite an offer from Gerry Cardinale. The Camarda deal represents the first piece of business completed amidst this ongoing process.
