Milan clear the deck as Bennacer eyes Qatar move to Al-Gharafa

AC Milan have terminated the contract of Ismeal Bennacer, the long‑serving midfielder, clearing the way for his move to Al‑Gharafa SC in the Qatar Stars League. The 178‑appearance Rossoneri veteran has not featured since the 2024‑25 season, leaving a squad gap the club must address.

The termination ends a deal that was scheduled to run until the close of the 2026‑27 campaign. By ending the contract early, Milan free up both wages and a roster spot, allowing them to re‑allocate resources ahead of the upcoming season.

Bennacer’s recent playing time has come on loan, first with Olympique de Marseille in France’s Ligue 1 and later with Dinamo Zagreb in the Czech top flight. Those spells offered limited exposure after his prolonged absence from the Rossoneri first team.

He was a midfield regular during Milan’s 2021‑22 Scudetto‑winning campaign, making 31 league appearances. However, a major knee injury suffered toward the end of the 2022‑23 season hindered his ability to re‑establish a place in the San Siro lineup.

According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, the Algerian midfielder has now officially terminated his contract with the Rossoneri and is expected to join Al‑Gharafa in the Qatar Stars League. The move marks his first permanent transfer away from Milan since arriving in 2019.

Al‑Gharafa SC competes in the Qatar Stars League, the top tier of football in Qatar. Bennacer’s free‑agent status removes any transfer fee barrier, smoothing the path for his registration ahead of the new campaign.

A photo from January 11, 2023 shows Ismael Bennacer watching the Coppa Italia clash between AC Milan and Torino FC at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Italy, underscoring his continued involvement with the club before the recent contract termination.