Official | Milan part company with long-term absentee Bennacer

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Ismael Bennacer of AC Milan looks on before the Coppa Italia match between AC Milan and Torino FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 11, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Milan have officially confirmed that they have parted company with midfielder Ismael Bennacer, who has not turned out for the Rossoneri in a competitive fixture since 2024. 

Official: Bennacer leaves Milan by mutual consent

The club confirmed that they had reached a mutual agreement to terminate the Algeria international’s contract in a brief statement that read: “AC Milan can confirm the termination of Ismael Bennacer’s contract by mutual consent. The club would like to wish him all the best for the future.”

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – JANUARY 03: Ismael Bennacer of AC Milan runs with the ball during the Italian Super Cup Semi-Final match between AC Milan and Juventus at Al Awwal Park on January 03, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)

Bennacer has been on Milan’s books for the last seven years having joined in a €16m deal from Empoli in the summer of 2019. 

He racked up 178 competitive appearances for the Rossoneri, including 137 in Serie A. He was a regular in the Milan midfield when the team won the Scudetto under Stefano Pioli in 2021-22, appearing in 31 league matches in the title-winning campaign. 

A serious injury to his knee at the end of the 2022-23 season, however, was the beginning of the end of Bennacer’s San Siro career. 

epa11804086 AC Milan's Ismael Bennacer (L) in action against Juventus' Manuel Locatelli (R) during the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final match between Juventus FC and AC Milan, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 03 January 2025. EPA-EFE/STR
epa11804086 Ismael Bennacer (L) in action against Juventus’ Manuel Locatelli (R) during the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final match between Juventus FC and AC Milan, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 03 January 2025. EPA-EFE/STR

He eventually returned to action in December of 2023 and went on to make 20 appearances in Serie A in 2023-24, most of which came off the bench. 

He was then allowed to leave on loan to join Marseille midway through the 2024-25 campaign and then to join Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian top flight for the 2025-26 season. 

Recent reports have claimed that he could now be on his way over to Qatar to join Al-Gharafa.

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