Galatasaray have completed the signing of Portuguese winger Rafael Leao from AC Milan for a transfer fee of €38 million. The 27-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year contract, becoming the club's third signing of the season as they sit top of the Süper Lig.
According to a report by Sabah Spor, the deal was finalized this week. Leao will now await his debut, which could come in the next fixture at home against fourth-placed Rizespor on December 6th. The Lions have started the campaign strongly, taking seven points from three matches with two wins and a draw, scoring nine goals and conceding four.
What shirt number will Rafael Leao wear at Galatasaray?
Rafael Leao will wear the number 27 jersey at Galatasaray, matching his age. The experienced attacker brings considerable international pedigree, having earned 49 caps for the Portuguese national team, scoring six goals. He made his senior debut for Portugal in a friendly against Qatar on October 9, 2021, and featured in five matches at the 2026 World Cup, netting once.
Now listed on the club's squad page, Leao significantly bolsters the manager's options in the final third. His arrival aligns with the team's potent attacking start to the season.
How many Portuguese players have played for Galatasaray in history?
Rafael Leao becomes the 219th foreign player to represent Galatasaray since the 1959 season. He also earns the distinction of being the seventh Portuguese footballer in the club's history. His predecessors from Portugal are Abel Xavier, Fernando Meira, Armindo Bruma, Josue Pesqueira, Gedson Fernandes, and Sergio Oliveira. Abel Xavier joined on loan on January 29, 2003.
The club's foreign player legacy spans a wide geography. Before Leao, 218 foreign players were signed from six continents and 55 different countries. Brazil leads the list with 25 players, followed by Yugoslavia with 16 and Romania with 15.
How does Leao's transfer add to the squad's diversity?
Leao's transfer adds another layer to Galatasaray's international squad composition. Historically, the club has also fielded eight footballers of Turkish origin who held other citizenships. These players are Kubilay Türkyılmaz (Swiss), Hakan Yakın (Swiss), Eren Derdiyok (Swiss), Pierre Esser (German), Kerem Demirbay (German), İlkay Gündoğan (German), Jimmy Durmaz (Swedish), and Yusuf Demir (Austrian).
Leao is Galatasaray's third acquisition of the new season's transfer window. French midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu and Russian defender Aleksey Batrakov were the earlier signings. These moves are designed to strengthen the squad for the title race, as reflected in their position on our standings page.
The integration of the new signings and the team's current form will be key determinants for the remainder of the season. Fans will get their first chance to see Leao in action during the home match against Rizespor in December. You can follow the team's performance statistics on our stats page.
