Inter officially announced the signing of French forward Ange-Yoan Bonny this morning. Born in Aubervilliers on October 25, 2003, Bonny came up through the youth systems of Tours and Châteauroux before moving to Italy at the young age of 17. In the summer of 2021, Parma purchased him for 700,000 euros, a substantial sum for a player initially intended for their Primavera (U19) team. However, by October, he was already taking his first steps with the senior squad in Serie B.
Bonny spent four seasons wearing the Parma jersey: three in Serie B and his final one in Serie A. Throughout this period, he hasn`t yet proven to be a prolific goalscorer, netting 15 times in 117 appearances. Despite this, he became an undisputed starter in his last two seasons. His impressive physical presence, ability to handle the ball, and surprisingly refined technique for a player standing 189 cm made him an indispensable team member. These qualities convinced Inter to invest 23 million euros plus bonuses to bring him to Milan.
Cristian Chivu, who coached him during his recent months in Emilia, was his primary advocate. Chivu utilized him mainly as a second striker in his 3-5-2 or 3-4-2-1 formations, playing in support of Mateo Pellegrino. Bonny is a mobile forward who prefers to roam and drop back to actively participate in the play. He likes to drift wide left to create space for the central striker and midfielders. Based on his physical build and characteristics, he currently appears to be the main alternative to Marcus Thuram, a player who lacked a genuine backup last season. However, his versatility allows him to play alongside the Frenchman as well, interpreting both roles in a two-striker setup. This adaptability is likely the most significant trait that prompted Inter to invest such a considerable sum for a player who still needs to develop greater finishing efficiency in front of goal – not an insignificant detail for a centre-forward.
Bonny arrives in Milan knowing that he, alongside Francesco Pio Esposito, will be the primary alternatives to the two starting forwards. His arrival means Sebastiano Esposito will be sacrificed (this time on a permanent basis), while Mehdi Taremi will remain as the fifth-choice striker if no other offers materialize. Inter`s plan is to develop Bonny behind Thuram with the aim of making him a starter within one to two seasons. This represents an excellent prospect for a player who, just a year ago, hadn`t even played a single minute in the top flight.
