Portuguese forward Rafael Leao, whose declining form coincided with AC Milan’s struggles in recent seasons, joined Galatasaray on Sunday, the Istanbul-based club announced.
The four-time reigning Turkish champions, who have qualified for the Champions League, said they paid €38 million ($44 million) for the 27-year-old attacker, who had also attracted interest from Aston Villa.
Galatasaray said Leao signed a four-year contract worth €10 million per season.
The Portugal international received a hero’s welcome from a large crowd of supporters when he arrived in Istanbul on Saturday.
The Turkish club also said Milan would receive 20 per cent of any profit from Leao’s future transfer.
The Sporting Lisbon academy graduate will join Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and former Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane at Galatasaray.
Leao joined Milan from Lille for a then-club-record €49.5 million in 2019 and went on to score 80 goals in 291 appearances for the Italian club.
He was a key figure in Milan’s 2021-22 Serie A title triumph, but concerns over his commitment and declining output increasingly overshadowed his final seasons at the club.
Earlier this summer, Milan broke their transfer record by paying €74 million to sign another Portugal international, Goncalo Ramos, from Paris Saint-Germain.
“It’s a tough moment saying goodbye to my teammates after seven years,” Leao said on Friday after watching Milan beat visiting Venezia 2-0.
