Galatasaray has signed Portuguese star forward Rafael Leao for the 2026-2027 season. The 27-year-old player was acquired from AC Milan for a fixed fee of 38 million euros and signed a four-year contract.
According to a report by Fotomac, the transfer was announced via the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) and the club's official social media accounts. Leao arrived in Istanbul on a Saturday and watched a match from the stands at RAMS Park. After the match, he went onto the pitch to greet his new teammates and take a victory photo. Leao's guaranteed net salary per season is set at 10 million euros. AC Milan will receive 20% of the profit from any future sale of the player.
What is the status of the transfer budget and foreign player rules?
Technical director Okan Buruk commented on the difficulties faced during the transfer window. He stated that foreign player rules make squad building challenging. Buruk said, "I don't want to give a name or position, but we want to reinforce the squad in the remaining days." The club currently has space for only one more player, who must be under 23 years old. He indicated that good players meeting this criterion start from at least 30-35 million euros. Galatasaray leads the Süper Lig. The team has collected 7 points from 3 games (2 wins, 1 draw), with a recent form of WWD. At the start of the season, they have scored 9 goals and conceded 4, for a +5 goal difference. The team's next fixture is at home against 5th-placed Rizespor on December 6, 2026. You can follow the current squad status on our squad page.
Does the search for a forward continue?
Yes, Galatasaray's priority is to strengthen the forward line. The club has been linked with Porto's national player Deniz Gül. However, a more concrete development involves Swiss striker Winsley Boteli, aged 20, from Swiss Super League side Sion. According to Fotomac's report dated August 30, 2026, Galatasaray has initiated moves for Boteli. Last season, on loan at Sion, Boteli played 38 matches, scoring 11 goals and providing 1 assist. This season, he has 9 goals and 2 assists in 10 matches. Sion acquired the player's registration permanently at the start of this season. Boteli, whose market value is shown as 5 million euros, has a contract with his club until 2030.
Why is Rafael Leao not playing right now?
New signing Rafael Leao is currently on the injured list, as can be seen on the club's injuries page. This situation affects the technical staff's plans for the forward line. It is not yet clear when Leao will return to the pitch. The team wants to complete its squad before a busy schedule of league and European cup matches. With the transfer window closing soon, the possibility of signing an under-23 forward is high. A young and in-form name like Boteli fits these criteria.
Galatasaray has shown an effective performance in the early weeks of the season. To maintain its leadership position and sustain its ambitions in Europe, the team needs squad depth. The Leao transfer was a major move, but another forward is being sought for rotation. You can examine the team's current performance statistics on our stats page. Developments in the transfer market in the coming days will shape the yellow-reds' season objectives.
