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Official: Milan sell Leao to Galatasaray after seven seasons
Milan have officially announced that former Serie A MVP winner Rafael Leao has joined Turkish giants Galatasaray on a permanent transfer after seven seasons with the Rossoneri.
Official: Milan sell Leao to Galatasaray
Galatasaray have confirmed that they will pay a fixed fee of €38m, not including bonuses, to sign Leao from Milan and that the Rossoneri will also retain a 20% sell-on clause.
COMO, ITALY – JANUARY 15: Rafael Leao of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and AC Milan at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on January 15, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The Portugal international had just shy of two seasons remaining on his contract with Milan, expiring in the summer of 2028.
He is set for a significant pay increase after his move to Turkey, with net wages confirmed to be worth €10m per season, again, not including bonuses.
Aston Villa had also been in negotiations to sign Leao towards the end of the summer transfer window, but were unable to match Galatasaray’s offer both in terms of the transfer fee and personal terms.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 08: Rafael Leao of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Genoa CFC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Leao has been one of Milan’s star attractions for the last seven years: He made 291 competitive appearances for the Rossoneri across all tournaments, including 227 in Serie A and is a former winner of the league’s MVP award when Milan won the Scudetto in 2021-22.
He also reached a Champions League semi-final in 2022-23 and won the Supercoppa Italiana under Sergio Conceicao in 2024-25.
He jetted off for Istanbul on Saturday and was greeted by wild crowds at the airport after his arrival.
Rafael Leao is greeted by Galatasaray fans in Istanbul after leaving Milan
“AC Milan announces the permanent transfer of Rafael Alexandre da Conceição Leão to Galatasaray Spor Kulübü,” read a statement on the Milan website on Sunday.
The Club thanks Rafa for the professionalism and passion shown in the Rossoneri shirt over these seven seasons together, during which he contributed to winning the Scudetto in the 2021/22 season and the 2024 Italian Supercup. To Rafa, best wishes, both personally and professionally, in this new chapter of his career.
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