AC Milan's Ismael Bennacer terminates contract, joins Qatari club Al-Gharafa SC
Algerian international midfielder Ismael Bennacer, 28, is set to terminate his AC Milan contract and join Qatari Stars League side Al-Gharafa SC. Bennacer, who was on loan at Dinamo Zagreb, struggled with injuries and limited playing time. The move ends his seven-year stint at Milan and marks his departure from European football. AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim approved the free transfer as one of his first major decisions.
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Reports are grouped by semantic similarity and deterministic rules. Language models may assist titles, summaries, translation and cross-source analysis; the page itself is projected from evidence records.
- Source updates only; analysis pending
Analysis pending
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
AC Milan Midfielder Bennacer Completes Medical, Set to Join Qatari Club Al-Gharafa
According to Qatari media outlet Al-Arab, Algerian midfielder Ismaël Bennacer, 28, has completed his medical examination at Aspetar Hospital and is set to join Qatari club Al-Gharafa. Bennacer was loaned by AC Milan to Dinamo Zagreb last season, making 18 appearances in the Croatian First League with 2 goals and 1 assist, and previously to Marseille in the 2024-25 season. He is expected to sign his contract in the coming hours and then travel to Slovakia to join Al-Gharafa's pre-season training camp. Al-Gharafa is strengthening its squad for the new season, which includes domestic Qatari tournaments and the AFC Champions League Elite. The club recently won the Qatar Emir Cup for the second consecutive year by defeating Al-Sadd in the final.
Ismaël Bennacer to terminate AC Milan contract before signing for Al-Gharafa
Ismaël Bennacer, the 28-year-old Algerian international midfielder, is set to terminate his contract with AC Milan and join Qatari club Al-Gharafa as a free agent. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, a verbal agreement has been reached between all parties, and only the official announcement remains. Bennacer, who was loaned to Olympique de Marseille and Dinamo Zagreb last season, will leave Milan without a transfer fee, being released from the final year of his contract. The move marks the end of his chapter with the Rossoneri as he continues his career in the Qatar Stars League.
Bennacer Terminates AC Milan Contract, Joins Al-Gharafa as Free Agent
According to renowned Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, AC Milan midfielder Ismaël Bennacer is set to terminate his contract with the Italian club and join Qatari side Al-Gharafa as a free agent. All relevant parties have reached a verbal agreement. Bennacer, 28, spent six years at AC Milan, making 178 appearances in all competitions and scoring 8 goals. The move marks the end of his tenure at the San Siro as he heads to the Qatar Stars League.
Show 5 older updatesHide older updates
Ruben Amorim to terminate former Arsenal midfielder Ismael Bennacer's contract at AC Milan
AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim is set to terminate the contract of former Arsenal midfielder Ismael Bennacer, allowing him to join Qatari club Al-Gharafa SC on a free transfer. Bennacer, 28, spent two seasons at Arsenal but made only one senior appearance before rebuilding his career in Italy. He joined AC Milan in 2019, won Serie A, and was named Player of the Tournament in Algeria's 2019 Africa Cup of Nations triumph. However, recent seasons saw him loaned to Marseille and Dinamo Zagreb due to injuries and competition. According to L'Equipe, negotiations are advanced for Bennacer to move to Qatar, with Milan expected to release him from the final year of his contract. This is one of Amorim's first major decisions since being appointed AC Milan manager last month, following his departure from Manchester United in January 2026.
Algerian midfielder Ismaël Bennacer close to signing with Qatar's Al-Gharafa SC
Algerian international midfielder Ismaël Bennacer (28) is in advanced negotiations to join Qatari club Al-Gharafa SC. Currently on loan at Dinamo Zagreb from AC Milan, Bennacer is expected to be released from the final year of his contract with the Rossoneri to sign in the Qatar Stars League. The 56-cap Algerian international has previously been on loan at Marseille and Dinamo Zagreb. The transfer would see him move to the Qatari championship, marking a significant shift in his career trajectory.
Algerian midfielder Ismaël Bennacer close to signing with Qatar's Al-Gharafa SC
Ismaël Bennacer, the 28-year-old Algerian international midfielder currently under contract with AC Milan until 2027, is in advanced negotiations to join Qatari club Al-Gharafa SC. Bennacer, who has 56 caps for Algeria, was previously loaned to Dinamo Zagreb and Marseille. He is expected to be released from the final year of his AC Milan contract to sign in the Qatar Stars League. The transfer would mark a significant move for the player, who has been with AC Milan since 2019.
Algerian midfielder Ismaël Bennacer close to signing with Qatar's Al-Gharafa SC
Algerian international midfielder Ismaël Bennacer, currently on loan at Dinamo Zagreb from AC Milan, is in advanced negotiations to join Qatari club Al-Gharafa SC. The 28-year-old, who has 56 caps for Algeria, is expected to be released from the final year of his contract with AC Milan to sign in the Qatar Stars League. Bennacer previously spent time on loan at Marseille before moving to Dinamo Zagreb. The transfer would mark a move to the Middle East for the player, who was once considered a highly sought-after talent in European football.
AC Milan Midfielder Ismael Bennacer Terminates Contract, Joins Qatari Club Al-Shamal Sports
According to Italian Sky Sports journalist Di Marzio, AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer is set to terminate his contract with the club after seven years. The 27-year-old Algerian international, who was loaned to Dinamo Zagreb last season, will move to Qatar to join Al-Shamal Sports Club, where his former national teammate Bounedjah plays. Bennacer struggled with various injuries during his season in Croatia, failing to secure consistent playing time and making only 19 appearances, contributing 1 goal and 2 assists. The move marks his departure from European football.