Cesc Fàbregas signs Samuele Ricci for Como: loan from AC Milan until 2027

Como have officially secured a major addition to their midfield this Saturday. Samuele Ricci, a 25-year-old Italian international, joins Cesc Fàbregas' project on loan from AC Milan until the end of the 2026/27 season. The agreement includes an option to buy that the Lombard club can activate once that period comes to a close.

• Samuele Ricci joins Como on loan from AC Milan until the end of the 2026/27 season.
• The deal includes an option to buy for the club coached by Cesc Fàbregas.
• The 25-year-old midfielder has already made more than 200 appearances in Italian professional football.
• Ricci came through at Empoli, played for Torino and signed for AC Milan in July 2025.
• Fàbregas praised his technique, intelligence and ability to dictate the tempo.

Samuele Ricci's profile: a composed central midfielder for Fàbregas' Como

Samuele Ricci fits the archetype of midfielder that thrives in the style of play Cesc Fàbregas has built at Como. Born in 2001, he came through the youth ranks at Empoli and made his professional debut for the Tuscan club in Serie B in 2019. His development was steady: after 90 appearances for Empoli, Torino moved for him in January 2022, initially on loan and later on a permanent basis.

Across three and a half seasons in Turin, he established himself as one of the most promising central midfielders in Italian football. That progression earned him a move to AC Milan in July 2025, and now he lands at Como with plenty of Serie A experience behind him. With more than 200 professional games and several caps for Italy's senior national team, Ricci brings composure, game intelligence and a strong ability to link the team from deeper positions.

What Ricci adds to Como's midfield in Serie A

Como's new signing stands out for his technical profile. He is a player who takes responsibility for building play, protects the ball with composure and knows how to set the tempo of a match. Those qualities are essential for a side that, under Fàbregas, tries to control games through possession and clean build-up from the back.

His arrival provides fresh options in the engine room and raises internal competition in an area of the pitch where Como were looking to strengthen. The option to buy included in the operation also gives the club more than a full season to assess his performances before committing to a permanent investment.

What Cesc Fàbregas and Samuele Ricci said about the move

Samuele is a player we know well. He has great technical quality, intelligence and an excellent ability to handle the ball. I am convinced that his qualities fit very well with our style of play and that he can bring a lot to the team.

Those were the words Cesc Fàbregas used to assess the signing in the statement released by the club. The Spanish coach made clear his satisfaction at adding a player he knows perfectly and considers ideal for raising the level of the midfield.

I am delighted to be here. My first impressions have been excellent from the very start. I really liked the project the club presented to me and I am looking forward to starting work under the coach and with the team to begin this new chapter.

For his part, Ricci spoke with enthusiasm about the new chapter he is starting in Lombardy. The midfielder underlined the appeal of the sporting project and his desire to begin training with his new teammates as soon as possible.

Another step forward in Como's ambitious Serie A project

Since returning to the top flight of Italian football, Como have backed a model of sustained growth that blends experienced players with proven talents. The arrival of Samuele Ricci fits that strategy: a young international with a strong present and room to improve, capable of making the difference in midfield.

Fàbregas' presence on the bench is a powerful argument when attracting players of this profile. The Catalan coach has built a recognisable and ambitious style of play, and the addition of Ricci supports that idea: a central midfielder who wants the ball, who does not hide and who understands football through patience and precision.

The details of the deal: loan length and option to buy

The agreement between the three parties means Samuele Ricci will wear the Como shirt until the end of the 2026/27 season. The formula chosen is a loan with an option to buy, which gives the receiving club the chance to keep the player permanently if his performances and the financial conditions are right.

This type of operation allows Como to secure an immediate reinforcement without committing to a definitive investment in the short term. Meanwhile, Ricci will have the opportunity to regain the prominence he perhaps lacked at AC Milan and to prove that his ceiling remains very high in Italian football.