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Nkunku, who played for Leipzig between 2019 and 2023 before joining Chelsea, has returned to the club he made his name at after just one season in Serie A. 

It has been reported that the deal is worth an initial €4m for the loan, with the option to buy set at €28m should Leipzig exercise it at the end of the 2026-2027 campaign. 

The 28 year-old struggled to make an impact in Milan, managing just eight goals and three assists in 35 appearances across all competitions, with 17 of those being starts. 

Nkunku was not in the squad for Milan's season-opening win over Torino on Sunday after being deemed surplus to requirements by new Rossoneri boss Ruben Amorim. 

"When the opportunity to move to RB Leipzig arose, I really wanted to take this opportunity," Nkunu said. "I'm really happy to be back here, I'm in top shape, I want to help the team directly, and I can't wait to be back on the pitch in front of our fans at the Red Bull Arena.

"My connection to Leipzig is a special one. Even after my transfer, I always followed exactly what was happening at the Red Bulls, and I'm ready to write another chapter at RBL.

"In the conversations, I felt from the beginning how much the people in charge here still appreciate me and how much trust they have in me.

"For me, Leipzig is therefore exactly the right place to show my best performances."

Nkunku returns to Leipzig three years after leaving for Chelsea, and he will be hoping to get back to the form that made him one of the top strikers in the Bundesliga at that time. 

"We are very happy that Christo is back with us. He has already shown in Leipzig what exceptional quality he brings to the table and that he can decide games," Leipzig's managing director of sport, Marcel Schafer, said.

"He knows the club, the city and the environment and will give us additional options with his flexibility in attack.

We were particularly pleased to see how clearly Christo expressed his desire to play for RB Leipzig again.

"Despite the interest of other top European clubs, he was desperate to return. That shows his special connection to our club."

Leipzig finished third in the Bundesliga last season and begins its 2026-2027 campaign this Sunday at home to Borussia Monchengladbach.