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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Marc Mayo

Rafael Leao signs new AC Milan contract to put end to Chelsea transfer speculation

AC Milan forward Rafael Leao has ended speculation over his future by signing a new contract with the Italian club.

Chelsea had been linked with the Portuguese forward across multiple transfer windows, with Arsenal and Manchester United rumoured to be monitoring his situation.

Leao, 23, was out of contract in 12 months’ time but has now committed his future to the summer of 2028.

“I am very happy,” he told reporters at the Milan training ground. “It’s something I wanted to do and now it is done.

“We hope to do great things together in future. We reached an agreement and I am very happy. Now our focus goes to the Verona game and then next season when we want to win many important things.”

Portugal international Leao signed for Milan from Lille in 2019 and has excelled over the past two seasons in particular, winning Serie A in 2022 before helping guide the Rossoneri to the Champions League semi-finals earlier this year.

Reports in Italy suggest he has agreed to a £150million release clause as part of his new contract, which will only become active for a short period in July.

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