Ismael Bennacer joins Al Gharafa after leaving AC Milan

Al Gharafa have officially signed Algeria international Ismael Bennacer, ending the midfielder’s spell as a free agent after his contract with AC Milan was terminated by mutual consent.

The 28-year-old leaves the Italian club after seven years with the Rossoneri, during which he made 174 Serie A appearances. His move to Qatar brings an end to uncertainty over the next stage of his career, with his arrival at Al Gharafa having been anticipated for several weeks, as reported exclusively by Africafoot.

Bennacer joined AC Milan from Empoli in 2019 and played an important role in the club’s Serie A title success during the 2021-22 season. However, recurring knee injuries affected his physical condition from 2023 onwards and led to successive loan spells at Olympique de Marseille and Dinamo Zagreb.

He has not played for AC Milan in an official competition since 2025. His injury problems, together with an inconsistent spell in Croatia, kept him away from action for several months.

Bennacer was a regular visitor to Doha’s Aspetar clinic as he worked on his recovery. He was also recently seen in the stands at a cup match in Qatar alongside fellow Algeria international Adam Ounas, before completing his move to Al Gharafa.

A fresh start in Qatar

The Qatari club have not disclosed the length of Bennacer’s contract. He will turn 29 in December and will now attempt to rediscover his best form in a new league.

Bennacer joins an Al Gharafa squad competing in the AFC Champions League. The club’s next fixture in the competition is against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal on Tuesday.

The midfielder was born in Arles and is currently valued at €8m by Transfermarkt. During his time in Italy, he earned an annual salary of €7,040,000, equivalent to 4,576,000,000 FCFA.

His move to Al Gharafa gives him the opportunity to rebuild his career after a difficult period disrupted by injuries and limited playing time. There is no indication from the club of how long the agreement will run, but the transfer confirms his return to competitive football after more than a month without a contract.