Rafael Leao Completes €38m Move From AC Milan to Galatasaray

Rafael Leao has completed his move from AC Milan to Galatasaray in a deal worth €38 million, bringing an end to a seven-season spell with the Serie A giants and confirming a move that had also drawn interest from Aston Villa.

The Portugal international signed a four-year contract with the Turkish champions, worth a reported €10 million per season net, with Milan retaining a 20 percent sell-on clause on any future transfer. Leao arrived in Istanbul to a warm reception from Galatasaray supporters at the airport before completing the formalities of the move, expressing his excitement to link up with fellow forwards Victor Osimhen and Leroy Sane at the four-time reigning Turkish champions, who have also secured qualification for this season's Champions League league phase.

The 27-year-old leaves Milan having made 291 appearances across all competitions, scoring 80 goals and providing 65 assists since his €49.5 million move from Lille in 2019, which was a club-record fee at the time. Leao was the standout performer during Milan's Serie A title-winning campaign in 2021-22, when he was named the league's Most Valuable Player, and also helped the club reach a Champions League semi-final in 2022-23 and win the Italian Super Cup last season. His form and fitness had become increasingly inconsistent in recent seasons, however, coinciding with a broader dip in Milan's own fortunes.

Aston Villa had also been in advanced talks to sign Leao towards the end of the transfer window, but were ultimately unable to match Galatasaray's financial package. The move represents a major statement of intent from Galatasaray as they prepare for another Champions League campaign, with Leao set to make his first appearance for the club against Lille, his former side, when the two teams meet in the league phase on October 21.