Rafael Leão has confirmed his desire to leave AC Milan this summer, publicly declaring that he is ready for a new challenge in a different league after seven seasons at San Siro, in what amounts to the most definitive statement yet on the future of one of European football’s most talented wingers.

Speaking at an event in Portugal promoting his clothing brand ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 26-year-old was candid and unambiguous about his intentions. “I think I have given AC Milan everything I could. It is a club that helped me grow a lot and supported me through difficult moments. I am happy to have written my name in the club’s history. Now I want to try a new challenge in another league. If that happens, I will be very happy and satisfied, because it would mean I have done my job in the best way possible,” the Portuguese winger told Sport TV Portugal. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano described the interview as a public statement that left no room for denial, noting that Leão made clear his intention to experience football in a new country.

The declaration brings a degree of closure to months of swirling speculation surrounding Leão’s future at the Rossoneri. The forward has endured a turbulent final chapter at Milan, managing only 13 goal involvements in 2025-26 while starting just 25 games under Massimiliano Allegri. Tensions with supporters grew during the season, and Milan’s failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League finishing fifth in Serie A appears to have accelerated the breakdown of what was once a thriving relationship between player and club. Leão, who joined from Lille in 2019, leaves behind a record of 80 goals and 55 assists across 291 appearances in all competitions.

Interest from the Premier League has been prominently reported, with Manchester United and Arsenal both linked. Leão is said to have a long-standing fondness for the Premier League and has cited watching Manchester United closely growing up because of Cristiano Ronaldo. Several English clubs are believed to be willing to pay a transfer fee in the region of €40–50 million for a player still under contract until June 2028. Meanwhile, Galatasaray have reportedly tabled the most concrete financial offer on the table so far, presenting a package worth nearly double his current Milan salary. The Turkish club have successfully attracted high-profile attackers from Serie A before, including Victor Osimhen, and appear ambitious in their pursuit of Leão.

When pressed on whether England, Spain or Saudi Arabia was his preferred destination, the winger sidestepped the question and redirected focus toward Portugal’s upcoming World Cup campaign. “The most important thing now is the World Cup and helping the national team in any way I can. When the time comes, I will look at the best options to continue my career and keep competing at the top of European football,” he said. Milan’s front office is reported to be open to selling, with the potential transfer income seen as an opportunity to reshape the squad significantly heading into a new era.