Portuguese international forward Rafael Leao has signed a four-year contract with Galatasaray in a 38 million euro deal, the Istanbul club announced on Sunday.
Under the terms of the agreement, the 27-year-old winger will earn an annual salary of 10 million euros. AC Milan will also retain a 20 percent share of the profit from any future transfer.
Leao confirmed his departure from AC Milan on Friday following a 2-0 victory over Venezia in the second round of Serie A, a match in which he did not play. The Italian side is currently managed by Portuguese head coach Ruben Amorim.
Speaking in the stadium mixed zone after the match, Leao said that it was a difficult moment and that he had said goodbye to his teammates after seven years, adding that the time had come to move on.
The forward expressed gratitude to the Italian club, stating that he believed he would remain in Milan's history because of everything he had accomplished. He added that his affection for the club would never end and that he would continue to follow the team from a distance.
Seven seasons in Milan
The transfer brings an end to a seven-season stint at AC Milan for the Portuguese attacker. During his time at the San Siro, Leao won the Serie A title in 2022, when he was also named the league's player of the season, and lifted the Supercoppa Italiana in 2024. He scored 80 goals in 291 official appearances for the Rossoneri.
Leao developed in the youth academy at Portuguese club Sporting CP before moving to French side Lille. He has earned 49 senior international caps for Portugal, scoring six goals.
The move follows two seasons of lower individual production in Italy and coincides with Milan's signing of fellow Portuguese international Gonçalo Ramos for 74 million euros. Ramos scored on Friday against Venezia to help secure the win that placed Milan top of Serie A with six points.
Attacking options at Galatasaray
At Galatasaray, Leao joins a side that has won four consecutive Turkish national titles. The Istanbul club will also face Leao's former team Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League.
The Portuguese international will share attacking duties in Istanbul with Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen and German winger Leroy Sane, who joined the club from Bayern Munich.
