Rafael Leao is set to leave AC Milan for Galatasaray after choosing a move to Turkey over a potential transfer to the Premier League.
An agreement between the two clubs has been reached for the Portugal winger, with the overall package understood to be worth €45m. Galatasaray will pay €43m in guaranteed fees, with a further €2m available through add-ons and performance-related bonuses.
AC Milan will also retain a 20% sell-on clause, meaning the Italian club would receive a share of any profit from a future transfer involving Leao.
The deal was reported by Sky Sport, while transfer details also indicated that an agreement in principle had been reached after Galatasaray improved its proposal. The Turkish club’s offer is expected to make the move one of the most significant transfers in the history of the Turkish league.
Leao had initially prioritised a move to the Premier League. Aston Villa emerged as the leading contender and verbally offered the player an annual salary of €7.5m.
However, Aston Villa did not submit a formal offer to AC Milan, and the proposed terms did not meet Leao’s financial expectations. Galatasaray then intensified its efforts, improving its financial package and presenting the player with an ambitious sporting project.
Those negotiations eventually persuaded Leao to give his final approval to the move. He is expected to sign a contract running until 2030, with an annual salary of €10m plus bonuses.
Only the final formalities and a medical remain before the transfer can be completed, according to the information available. Once those steps are concluded, Leao will bring a lengthy spell with AC Milan to an end and begin a new chapter in his career with the Turkish champions.
Galatasaray’s move represents a major statement in the transfer market. The club’s willingness to invest heavily in Leao is intended to reinforce its position domestically and strengthen its ambitions in European competition.
The agreement was described in transfer reports as a package worth more than €45m once bonuses and the sell-on provision are taken into account. Leao accepted Galatasaray’s terms after Aston Villa’s interest failed to develop into a formal bid and the Turkish club raised its proposal.
For AC Milan, the arrangement provides an immediate guaranteed fee of €43m while preserving the possibility of further income from add-ons and a future sale. For Galatasaray, it brings a high-profile Portugal international to Turkey and underlines the club’s determination to compete for continued domestic dominance and make a stronger impact on the continental stage.
Leao’s departure would close his time with the Rossoneri, while Galatasaray prepare to complete the last administrative steps and medical examination before officially confirming the transfer.
