Official | Wolfsburg conclude €10m ‘Malick Thiaw style’ sale of David Odogu to Milan

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Wolfsburg central defender David Odogu’s reported on move to AC Milan has been officially confirmed. In something of a surprise, the 19-year-old will be departing his Bundesliga club on a permanent basis for a €10m transfer fee. The transaction is very much reminiscent of Schalke 04’s €12.8m sale of Malick Thiaw to Milan three years ago. Naturally, in the case of Thiaw, Milan secured themselves a dynamite prospect. 

Odogu was linked with a loan move away from Wolfsburg this summer, but reportedly opted to remain with Germany’s green company team after an injury to Denis Vavro accorded him some playing prospects. Milan’s interest nevertheless shifted the teenage talent’s calculus. Wolfsburg scrambled to find a replacement for Odogu on transfer deadline day, ultimately acquiring Sunderland’s Jenson Seelt on loan.

It remains to be seen if Odogu can hope for minutes on the Milan first team this season. The Berlin native will certainly be hoping to emulate Thiaw’s career trajectory. The one thing missing from Newcastle’s new €35m signing recent success is more German national team call ups, however. Germany U17 World Cup winner Odogu will wish to buck that trend. 

GGFN | Peter Weis