Kyle Walker has bid farewell to Manchester City after leaving the club – and England – having joined AC Milan on loan in Italy.
The 34-year-old decided on seeking a new challenge last month after a difficult campaign with the Premier League champions.
Pep Guardiola revealed in early January that Walker was keen for a fresh start elsewhere and sources close to the player quickly ruled out the potential of the Saudi Pro League.
Having played for City for nearly eight years, he has struggled for form this season, coinciding with issues in his wider private life which been played out in the public domain as he battles to save his marriage.
Walker is set to start the new chapter of his life alongside his wife Annie Kilner and their four children after the couple have seemingly patched up their relationship after being on the verge of divorce.
And now, the defender has taken to social media to pin a goodbye message to City and their fans as he prepares to start his new life abroad.
Kyle Walker has shared a goodbye message to Manchester City after leaving the club
He penned a message to his family, Manchester City and AC Milan as the move was confirmed
The defender made his intentions to finish his career abroad clear and he has now departed the Premier League champions
He will start a new life with wife Annie Kilner and their four children having been on the verge of divorce
‘Manchester City… where do I start? Signing for this incredible club in 2017 was a dream come true. Seven years later, winning 17 trophies, including the Champions League and the famous treble is something I could only have dreamt as a child.
‘To play alongside so many top players has pushed me to be the best version of myself, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity I’ve had at the Etihad.
‘A huge thank you to so many people, the coaching staff, the kit men and all the backroom staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes. You make every day enjoyable and provide the platform for us to perform at our best.
‘To my teammates, from the moment I walked through the door I felt at home. Thank you for the great memories and for all the success we have shared together. You are friends, but also family for life.
‘To Pep Guardiola, thank you for believing in me and working so hard to bring me here in 2017. Together, we’ve celebrated 17 trophies, and your guidance has helped shape me into the player I am today. I’ll be forever grateful.
‘To Annie, our children and all my family who have been there and supported me on this journey thank you.
‘Most importantly, to the fans—thank you for embracing me as one of your own from day one. Your unwavering support, week in, week out, home and away, will never be forgotten.
‘I wish you all constant success going forward. Thank you. Kyle.’
Walker won 17 trophies at City, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League
Walker thanked Annie and ‘all my family who have been there and supported me on this journey’ in his goodbye post
He also thanked Pep Guardiola for ‘believing in me’ and working hard to sign him back in 2017
Kilner served Kyle with divorce papers in October and kicked him out of the marital home after discovering he had a second child with Lauryn Goodman
During his time at the Etihad, Walker lifted 17 trophies, including winning six Premier League titles.
Milan are paying all of Walker’s sizeable wages through the duration of the loan. Matheus Nunes has been filling in as City’s right back in recent weeks.
Walker’s City contract expires in 2026, but it appears inevitable that he will depart permanently in the summer after making his desire to end his career abroad clear.
Walker has, meanwhile, been fighting to save his marriage for a number of months now.
Walker’s private life was turned upside down in December 2023 when it was revealed that he had fathered a secret daughter with reality star Lauryn Goodman in 2022. The pair also had a son in 2020.
Childhood sweetheart Kilner, who started dating Kyle when she was 16, was pregnant with their fourth child at the time.
She had been planning on divorcing him but the couple put on a united front this Christmas at the family home with their four children, Roman, 13, Riaan, eight, six-year-old Reign and baby Rezon.
A well-placed source told MailOnline of the situation: ‘His wife Annie will be on the plane with him along with the kids.
Along with his four children with Kilner, Walker also has two kids with Lauyrn Goodman
But he has rebuilt his relationship with Kilner, who will take a private jet to join him in Italy
‘They’ve had well publicised struggles but are now looking to put all that behind them and start afresh in Italy.’
‘The plan is for Annie to join Kyle in Italy. Kyle and Annie have had a terrible year.
‘She was very close to filing for divorce at the end of last year. It looks like she’s changed her mind about the divorce for the time being and she will go to Italy with Kyle and the kids.
‘With all the problems they have had with Lauryn, who knows, maybe Milan will be a fresh start for them?’
Kilner, who is taking a private jet to join him in Italy, moved the footballer back into the marital home amid ‘second thoughts’ over the pair’s £27million divorce.
It comes as Lauryn Goodman has reportedly made a plea to her ex Kyle Walker as she plans to quit the UK with their children.
The influencer, 33, is said to have asked the footballer’s permission to rent out her home while she temporarily lives abroad in Dubai with their two children, Kairo, four, and 16-month-old daughter Kinara.
Lauryn and her two children currently reside in a £2.4m Sussex mansion owned by Walker, purchased as part of her demands for child maintenance contributions.
Milan confirmed Walker’s arrival on Friday evening – they are paying all of his sizeable wages
And according to The Sun, Lauryn has contacted his lawyers to query about renting it out as she yearns for a ‘change of scenery’ after facing backlash amid their paternity scandal.
Later on Friday, Walker posted a message to AC Milan, sharing a photo of himself in the Milan kit and writing: ‘Ciao @acmilan. I’m delighted and proud to sign for AC Milan! A club with such rich history, one I’ve followed since I was a kid. It’s an honour to join and I can’t wait to pull on the Rossoneri shirt and get started.
‘I’m very much looking forward to this new chapter in my career and to beginning this journey with my family in Italy.
‘Thank you to @markrankine_ (his agent) the journey continues. Finally a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way, both on and off the pitch. See you soon! Forza Milan’
