Rafael Leao is on his way to Galatasaray after the Turkish champions beat late competition from Aston Villa to agree a deal worth more than €45 million with AC Milan.
The agreement, which includes add-ons and a sell-on clause, has also been reached with Leão’s camp, with the Portugal international giving Galatasaray the green light to complete the move.
Leao is expected in Istanbul this weekend after Galatasaray moved decisively to close the deal following Villa’s late attempt to turn his head.
The Premier League club had been in contact with the 27-year-old over the past 48 hours and came close to changing the outcome. Galatasaray responded by improving their offer and pushing harder for the player’s commitment, eventually winning the race.
The move will bring Leao’s seven-year spell at Milan to an end.
Signed from Lille in 2019, the winger developed into one of the Rossoneri’s most influential attacking players and played a key role in their 2022 Serie A title triumph. His departure represents a significant change for Milan, who will at least receive a sizeable fee for a player who has been central to their attack for years.
For Galatasaray, however, Leao’s arrival is about more than adding another forward to an already formidable squad.
The Turkish champions are increasingly becoming a magnet for established stars, with Victor Osimhen, Leroy Sané and İlkay Gundogan already giving the club considerable European pedigree. Across Istanbul, Fenerbahçe have also assembled a squad featuring names such as Romelu Lukaku, Ederson, N’Golo Kanté, Marco Asensio and Nathan Aké, while Mohamed Salah’s move to Trabzonspor has added another global superstar to the Turkish Super Lig.
Leao now joins that growing list, underlining how quickly the league is rebuilding its attraction for players who could still command attention in Europe’s traditional top-five leagues.
And the circumstances of this particular deal make the statement even stronger. Aston Villa had a clear Premier League route on the table, but Leão ultimately chose Istanbul after Galatasaray stepped up their pursuit.
The main terms of the transfer are now agreed, with only the final formalities standing between Leao and his move to Galatasaray.