Buy-Back Clause Blamed for Collapse of Artem Dovbyk’s Transfer to AC Milan

What looked like a done deal in the final days of the summer window has now fallen apart — and Artem Dovbyk will not be joining AC Milan. The Ukrainian striker was on the verge of making a high-profile move to Serie A, but behind-the-scenes complications derailed the transfer at the eleventh hour.

According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, the main stumbling block came not from Milan, but from AS Roma. The deal was structured as a player swap, with Milan set to send Santiago Giménez to Roma in exchange for Dovbyk. However, the Giallorossi insisted on a buy-back clause for the Mexican forward — a condition that AC Milan found unacceptable.

Negotiations between the clubs were described as brief but firm. Milan refused to include any future obligation that would allow Roma to reclaim Giménez, leading to a breakdown in talks. As a result, both players remain with their current clubs.

Uncertain Future for Dovbyk

This failed move leaves Dovbyk in a difficult situation. The striker is still at Roma, but under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, whose trust in the Ukrainian appears limited at best. Sources close to the club suggest Gasperini sees little place for Dovbyk in his tactical setup — raising questions about the forward’s playing time in the first half of the 2025/26 season.