Inter Milan has confirmed the return of midfielder Aleksandar StankovicPlayer·Aleksandar Stankovic, securing his services from Club BruggeTeam·Club Brugge in a deal valued at €23 million. The move, effective July 1, 2026, sees the highly-rated prospect sign a long-term contract with the Nerazzurri until June 30, 2031, following a successful season in Belgium.
The €23 million figure represents the activation of a buy-back clause that Inter Milan shrewdly inserted when Stankovic was initially sold to Club BruggeTeam·Club Brugge in 2025 for €9.5 million. This strategic maneuver means the net cost of the transfer for Inter is approximately €13.5 million, with Club BruggeTeam·Club Brugge also retaining a percentage of any future transfer fee, as reported by current web sources.
Aleksandar StankovicPlayer·Aleksandar Stankovic, the son of former Inter player Dejan Stankovic, enjoyed a remarkable 2025/26 campaign with Club BruggeTeam·Club Brugge. He established himself as a dynamic and consistent presence in midfield, contributing 9 goals and 5 assists across 55 appearances in all competitions. His impressive performances did not go unnoticed, attracting significant interest from several prominent European clubs, including ChelseaTeam·Chelsea, ArsenalTeam·Arsenal, Borussia DortmundTeam·Borussia Dortmund, and Atlético Madrid.
Inter's decision to activate the buy-back clause underscores their commitment to integrating promising academy graduates into their long-term project. While the re-signing is confirmed, discussions were ongoing as of late May 2026 regarding whether Stankovic would be immediately integrated into the first-team squad or potentially sold for a higher fee. Inter coach Cristian ChivuCoach·Cristian Chivu, who previously worked with Stankovic in the youth setup, is reportedly involved in these crucial discussions.
It is important to note that the initial suggestion of a "Stankovic stay unlikely" in the source data pertains to Aleksandar's immediate future at Inter, rather than his father, Dejan Stankovic. Dejan Stankovic is currently the head coach of Serbian Super League team Red Star BelgradeTeam·Red Star Belgrade, a position he returned to in December 2025, having previously managed Spartak Moscow.
This acquisition comes on the heels of a highly successful 2025/26 season for Inter Milan under head coach Cristian ChivuCoach·Cristian Chivu. The club secured the Serie ACompetition·Serie A title, finishing 1st in the league, and also lifted the Coppa ItaliaCompetition·Coppa Italia. Their European campaign saw them reach the knockout phase play-offs of the UEFA Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League and the semi-finals of the Supercoppa ItalianaCompetition·Supercoppa Italiana. Lautaro Martínez led the line with distinction, scoring 17 goals in the league and 22 across all competitions. Inter will now prepare to defend their Serie ACompetition·Serie A title, with their 2026/27 campaign set to begin at home against newly promoted MonzaTeam·Monza.
Inter's Aleksandar Stankovic battles Sassuolo's Flavio Russo for the ball. LaPresse/IMAGO
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