Rafael Leão arrived in Istanbul on Friday ahead of his expected transfer from AC Milan to Galatasaray. The Portuguese forward completed a medical and is set to sign a four-year deal after Galatasaray agreed a fee of €45 million ($52m) with Milan. Aston Villa also pursued Leão, but the player preferred the Turkish club and they failed to agree terms.

Leão was not included in Milan's squad that defeated Venezia 2-0 on Friday. In a video posted by Galatasaray, Leão wore a Gala scarf and said he was grateful for the fans' support. Since joining Milan from Lille in 2019, Leão has been a key player, helping the club win the Serie A title in 2021-22 and the Italian Super Cup in 2024-25.

He scored 80 goals and provided 65 assists in 291 appearances across all competitions. Speaking at Atatürk Airport, Leão expressed excitement to meet the fans and partner with teammate Victor Osimhen, stating they can achieve good things in the league and Champions League.