Inter Milan are accelerating their pursuit of Koni De Winter, the talented Belgian centre-back currently impressing at Genoa. With their Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on the horizon and a heated Scudetto race ongoing, Inter are also looking ahead, aiming to reinforce their squad for next season and avoid drawn-out transfer battles.
Calciomercato report how De Winter, born in 2002, began his career in Belgium before joining Juventus’ youth academy in 2018. Despite his promise, he never made a Serie A debut for Juventus’ first team and was loaned out to Empoli and then Genoa. Last summer, Genoa secured his permanent transfer for €8 million plus a future resale percentage, a move that now looks like a bargain given his rapid development.
This season, De Winter has established himself as a key figure in Genoa’s defence, making over 20 appearances and scoring three goals. His versatility allows him to play both in a back three and a back four, and he is comfortable even on the left side despite being right-footed. Since Patrick Vieira took over as Genoa’s coach, De Winter’s performances have reached new heights, drawing attention from top clubs in Italy and abroad.
Inter have already opened talks with Genoa, leveraging their strong relationship built over previous transfers. The Nerazzurri are keen to complete the deal quickly, possibly including young players as part of the negotiation. Genoa, aware of growing interest from Premier League clubs, have set a valuation of at least €25 million for the Belgian defender.
De Winter himself appears open to the move. He was seen at San Siro during Inter’s dramatic Champions League victory over Barcelona, sharing his excitement on social media. The experience of witnessing such a night at San Siro clearly left an impression on him, and reports suggest he also met briefly with Inter officials during his visit.
Inter are hoping to finalize the transfer during the special early summer window from June 1 to June 14, a period that allows clubs to register new signings ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. Bringing in a player like De Winter would inject fresh energy and ambition into Inter’s squad as they prepare for a demanding summer and the historic challenges ahead.