Como Transfer Blitz Continues with €19m Nicolas Kuhn Deal

Como transfer discussions reached a decisive point on Monday as newly promoted Serie A club Como 1907 scheduled medical tests for German winger Nicolas Kuhn ahead of a €19 million move from Celtic. The Lombardy side, guided by sporting advisor Cesc Fabregas, is pushing its summer outlay toward the €100 million mark as it looks to consolidate its top-flight status after a headline-grabbing return to Italy’s elite.

Como transfer vision: Fabregas builds a modern, attacking squad

Fabregas has made no secret of his desire to rebrand Como as a dynamic, possession-minded outfit. After sealing survival last term with an enterprising style, the former Arsenal and Barcelona icon convinced the club’s wealthy Indonesian ownership to back an aggressive recruitment plan. Kuhn is the fifth arrival of the window, following striker Pietro Pellegri, veteran playmaker Josip Iličić, full-back Jesús Vázquez and goalkeeper Altay Bayındır. Collectively the quintet already represents an investment of around €67 million, underlining the seriousness of the Como transfer strategy.

Why Kuhn? A statistical profile of the German flier

Few wingers in Europe matched Kuhn’s end-product in 2023-24. The 24-year-old scored 21 goals and added 15 assists across all competitions for Celtic, blending explosive pace with refined decision-making. According to Wyscout data, he averaged 4.8 progressive carries and 2.3 key passes per 90 minutes, metrics that align perfectly with Fabregas’ demand for verticality and quick combinations in the final third. At 1.78 m, Kuhn is also deceptively strong in duels, winning 47 percent of his one-on-one battles in the Scottish Premiership.

Transfer details: fee structure, contract length and bonuses

Sources close to the negotiations claim Celtic will receive an initial €15 million with €4 million in easily achievable add-ons tied to appearances and team performance. Kuhn is expected to sign a five-year contract worth an estimated €2.2 million net per season, more than triple his Glasgow wage. The medical examinations will take place at the state-of-the-art Villa Olmo clinic on Lake Como, after which the player will join his new teammates for pre-season camp in Lugano.

Como transfer ripple effect on the squad hierarchy

Kuhn’s arrival inevitably sparks competition on the flanks. French prospect Jean-Pierre Nsame, who filled in as an inverted winger last term, is likely to revert to his natural centre-forward role. Meanwhile, academy starlet Simone Verdi may seek a loan to secure regular minutes. Fabregas, serving as both philosophical architect and assistant coach, believes healthy internal rivalry will prevent complacency. “Every position must have two high-level options,” he told local media last week. “That is the only way to survive a 38-game Serie A grind.”

Tactical fit: from Celtic’s 4-3-3 to Como’s fluid 3-4-2-1

Under Brendan Rodgers, Kuhn excelled as a traditional right-winger, hugging the touchline before darting inside to shoot. At Como he will likely operate as one of two hybrid No. 10s behind Pellegri, given Fabregas’ preference for a 3-4-2-1 that morphs into a 3-2-5 in possession. In training sessions observed by Italian journalists, the coaching staff has drilled automatisms where the winger drops between the lines, allowing wing-back Vázquez to surge beyond. Kuhn’s ambidextrous dribbling should therefore pose nightmares for Serie A full-backs.

Financial sustainability and Serie A’s salary cap scrutiny

The league’s “post-COVID spending monitor” obliges clubs to keep wage bills within 80 percent of revenue. Como’s hierarchy argues that rising sponsorship deals—led by a lucrative partnership with fashion brand Guess—combined with improved broadcast income will offset the new signings. Nonetheless, sporting director Carlalberto Ludi confirmed that “at least three fringe players” are on the market to balance salaries. Brazilian midfielder Alef and goalkeeper Matteo Gori top the exit list, with offers from Serie B already tabled.

Reaction from Celtic and Scottish media

Celtic fans are divided. Some lament losing a talisman ahead of Champions League qualifiers, while others applaud the board for banking a record fee for a player who cost just €3 million from Rapid Vienna eighteen months ago. Scottish columnist Hugh Keevins warned that replacing Kuhn’s end-product “will cost nearly as much as the club just earned,” highlighting the winger’s unique blend of goals and creativity. Rodgers is rumoured to be eyeing West Brom’s Jed Wallace as a quick fix.

What Kuhn himself said about the Como transfer

Speaking briefly at Glasgow Airport, the Germany Under-21 graduate expressed excitement: “I spoke with Cesc on the phone; his football ideas are inspiring. Playing in Serie A is a dream, especially in a project that values youth and attacking play. I cannot wait to meet the fans at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.” Kuhn also thanked Celtic supporters, calling his stint in Scotland “the most formative stage” of his career so far.

Como fixtures: where Kuhn could debut

The Lariani open their Serie A return against Torino on 18 August, a fixture pencilled in for live national broadcast. Should paperwork proceed smoothly, Kuhn may earn his first appearance in a high-intensity friendly versus Nice on 27 July. Fabregas hinted he would use the French test to experiment with his new attacking trident.

Historical context: Como’s boldest mercato since the 1980s

Older supporters draw parallels with the 1984 window when the club signed Claudio Gentile and Alessandro Altobelli to cement its place in the top tier. While today’s market values are incomparable, the strategic daring feels familiar. Analysts point out that only Juventus and Inter have spent more than Como this summer—a staggering statistic for a team whose stadium capacity remains under 15,000.

What’s next in the Como transfer carousel?

Reports in Spain link the club with Barcelona’s fringe midfielder Fermín López, while negotiations for Slavia Prague’s 19-year-old centre-back Jindřich Doudera are said to be advanced. If both deals materialise, Como’s gross spend would eclipse €120 million, placing them among Europe’s top-ten spenders. The ownership insists the spree is a calculated gamble aimed at securing mid-table status before the new 20,000-seat stadium—set for completion in 2027—opens its doors.

Opinion: measured ambition or risky overreach?

From a neutral standpoint, the Kuhn acquisition epitomises the fine balance between vision and volatility. Yes, the German’s data profile screams upside, and Fabregas’ tactical nous appears tailor-made to unlock it. Yet the Serie A landscape is littered with well-funded newcomers who misjudged the league’s tactical sophistication and paid the price. Como must integrate their recruits quickly, avoid dressing-room ego clashes and, above all, stay faithful to the possession principles that earned promotion. If they manage that, the lakeside club may transform from quaint romantic story to sustainable top-flight fixture—proving that ambitious spending can coexist with coherent football ideology.