Rafael Leão

Leão's current-season form is down 19% on last season (Season 48→39), while his Rating eased 81→66. His peak season for form remains 2022/23 (Season 65).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	AC Milan · 5th	29	9	3	6.91	66	39
2024/25	AC Milan · 8th	36	8	8	7.19	81	48
2023/24	AC Milan · 2nd	34	9	9	7.41	87	54
2022/23	AC Milan · 4th	35	15	8	7.09	89	65
2021/22	AC Milan · 1st	34	11	8	7.16	92	57

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 4 earlier seasons and 4 youth-team spells in the full career.

Portugal · international

Side	Apps	G
Portugal	48	6
Portugal U21	14	1
Portugal U20	3	1
Portugal U19	11	1
Portugal U17	8	1

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthGoal-getting Winger

Rafael Leão is a 27-year-old winger at AC Milan, rated 66.3 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 68th of 194 on scout potential in the Serie A. In his prime years, he has been a rotation option this season (54.4% of available minutes). He brings 0.58 goal contributions per 90 (0.44 goals, 0.14 assists). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Leão.

Judged on this season alone, Leão graded 39 — an excellent campaign that ranks top 11% of the 19 wingers in the Serie A, on 9 goals and 3 assists in 29 appearances (0.581 involvements per 90).

Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 48 → 39). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has held fairly steady, peaking in 2022/23.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 66, 8th of 19 of the 19 wingers in the Serie A. At 27 Leão is in his prime years, and a market index of 41.1 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2022/23 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2022/23Trending downBreakout: 2021/22Injury-hit 2025/26

Current potential8th of 19 wingers · Serie A Current seasonTop 11% wingers · Serie A 2nd-best winger in the Serie A 68th in the Serie A · potential 8th-highest potential winger in the Serie A

66.3

Ratingi

8th of 19 wingers

Seasoni

developing / rotation level

54.4%

Minutes

rotation minutes

0.58

Goal contrib / 90

strong end product

Output in context · AC Milan finished 5th of 20 · an upper-table side

Apps

Goals

Assists

G+A

0.31

Goals / app

9 goals in 29 appearances (0.31 per game) for an upper-table side. He also laid on 3 assists, so the all-round involvement reads 12 goal contributions (0.41 per appearance).

Strengths

Final-third output. 0.58 goal contributions per 90 (0.44 goals, 0.14 assists) — productive for the role.
Pedigree. Performing in a top-tier setting (team strength 91/100).

Watch points

Game time. Only 54.4% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.

Outlook

With a Rating of 66.3, Leão carries the 8th-highest potential of the wingers in the Serie A of 19. In the final third he profiles as a genuine goal threat (0.58 goal contributions per 90). In the prime window — at or near peak market value, so the next two seasons are the ones to cash in or build around.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %54.4%

Available fixtures38 of 38

Goals / 900.436

Assists / 900.145

Goal contribution / 900.581

Defensive actions / 900.533

Player flow

Goal involvements12

Cards / 900.242

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~41), then tapers with age. At 27, Leão sits on 41.1, at or near its peak. The blue line is Leão's projected Rating — 66.3 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among wingers in the Serie A with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals9

Passing

Assists3

Defending

Tackles6

Interceptions5

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards5

Red cards0

Transfer history

€30M total transfer fees · 2 moves

AC MilanAug 2019 – now€ 30M

LilleAug 2018 – Aug 2019

Sporting CPuntil Aug 2018

About Rafael Leão

Rafael Alexandre da Conceição Leão is a 27-year-old winger who plays for AC Milan, born on June 10, 1999 in Almada, standing 188 cm tall. He is from Portugal. AC Milan currently sit 5th of 20 in the Serie A.

This season

In the current season, Rafael Leão has made 29 appearances with 9 goals and 3 assists across 1,859 minutes, with 5 yellow cards.

Rafael Leão's next match is on August 28, 2026, when AC Milan face Venezia at home in the Serie A.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates Rafael Leão at 66.3 with a Season form score of 39, ranking 68th of 194 wingers in the Serie A. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 13 career titles — among them the Super Cup and the Trofeo Silvio Berlusconi. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 10 recorded seasons, Rafael Leão has totalled 279 club appearances with 86 goals and 47 assists for 5 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2024/25, with 36 appearances for AC Milan.

Rafael Leão's career has also included time at Lille and Sporting CP.

On the international stage, Rafael Leão has represented Portugal, Portugal U21, Portugal U20, Portugal U19, Portugal U17 — 84 caps and 10 goals in our records.

Transfer news

→ GalatasarayRumoured

Galatasaray eye Rafael Leão swoop

38%

will it happen

1 report links Rafael Leão with Galatasaray. The reporting is well-sourced (85% credibility), led by Tribuna (reporting Fabrizio Romano) / Goal summary, putting the move at roughly 38% to happen. So far the talk is speculative rather than concrete.

85% credibility·7 reports·led by Tribuna (reporting Fabrizio Romano) / Goal summary

The reports (7)

Trusted source · 85%Tribuna (reporting Fabrizio Romano) / Goal summary
Al-Hilal remain interested in Rafael Leão — several Saudi clubs have held contacts with his entourage alongside Galatasaray as Milan consider selling.
Al-Hilal remain interested in Rafael Leão — several Saudi clubs have held contacts with his entourage alongside Galatasaray as Milan consider selling.
Mixed reliability · 62%Football-Italia
Rafael Leão remains the subject of multiple approaches; Milan are said to have set a €60–70m exit valuation and are waiting for concrete proposals (reporting on the same Leão story).
Rafael Leão remains the subject of multiple approaches; Milan are said to have set a €60–70m exit valuation and are waiting for concrete proposals (reporting on the same Leão story).
Mixed reliability · 56%Sky Sport Italia
Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe (and other suitors) are pursuing Rafael Leão while AC Milan have set a sale valuation — Turkish clubs have made approaches (interest/offers reported, no agreement).
Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe (and other suitors) are pursuing Rafael Leão while AC Milan have set a sale valuation — Turkish clubs have made approaches (interest/offers reported, no agreement).
Trusted source · 85%Sportitalia (live calciomercato updates referencing Italian journalist sources)
Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe are both monitoring Rafael Leão; Fenerbahçe reportedly arranged emissaries to Milan to speak with the club and the player's entourage.
Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe are both monitoring Rafael Leão; Fenerbahçe reportedly arranged emissaries to Milan to speak with the club and the player's entourage.
Trusted source · 85%Sportal (live calciomercato coverage / Italian media consolidation of reports)
Turkish clubs (Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray) have been linked with loan/offer ideas for Rafael Leão; at the moment there are contacts but no formal offer accepted by Milan.
Turkish clubs (Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray) have been linked with loan/offer ideas for Rafael Leão; at the moment there are contacts but no formal offer accepted by Milan.
Trusted source · 75%Sky Sport (Italy) reporting Turkish clubs' interest; additional coverage by Sportal/Goal.
Rafa Leão has drawn interest from Turkish clubs (Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe) — clubs have made approaches/offered loan proposals (no agreement).
Rafa Leão has drawn interest from Turkish clubs (Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe) — clubs have made approaches/offered loan proposals (no agreement).
Mixed reliability · 66%Gianluca Di Marzio
Galatasaray have offered AC Milan a loan with an option to buy for Rafael Leão; Milan prefer a permanent sale, so negotiations/interest continue.
Galatasaray have offered AC Milan a loan with an option to buy for Rafael Leão; Milan prefer a permanent sale, so negotiations/interest continue.

→ Saudi Pro LeagueRumoured

Rafael Leão linked with Saudi Pro League — 29% likely

29%

will it happen

1 report links Rafael Leão with Saudi Pro League. The reporting is moderately sourced (64% credibility), led by Football-Italia, putting the move at roughly 29% to happen. So far the talk is speculative rather than concrete.

64% credibility·1 reports·led by Football-Italia

The reports (1)

Mixed reliability · 62%Football-Italia
AC Milan forward Rafael Leão is reported to be open to a move to the Saudi Pro League if a European transfer does not materialise.
AC Milan forward Rafael Leão is reported to be open to a move to the Saudi Pro League if a European transfer does not materialise.

→ Aston VillaRumoured

Villa weigh up Rafael Leão move

26%

will it happen

A Rafael Leão move to Aston Villa is gathering pace — 1 report describe concrete progress (fee, terms or medical). The reporting is thinly sourced (33% credibility), led by Sky Sports, putting it at roughly 26% to complete.

33% credibility·1 reports·led by Sky Sports

The reports (1)

Low-trust source · 34%Sky SportsConcreteNamed source
Aston Villa have made an approach to sign Rafael Leão from AC Milan.
Aston Villa have made an approach to sign Rafael Leão from AC Milan.

→ Saudi Pro League clubsRumoured

Saudi Pro League clubs eyeing move for Rafael Leão

23%

will it happen

1 report links Rafael Leão with Saudi Pro League clubs. The reporting is moderately sourced (52% credibility), led by Goal, putting the move at roughly 23% to happen. So far the talk is speculative rather than concrete.

52% credibility·1 reports·led by Goal

The reports (1)

Mixed reliability · 56%Goal
Clubs from the Saudi Pro League (and Galatasaray) are in talks with Rafael Leão’s entourage as AC Milan explore outgoing options.
Clubs from the Saudi Pro League (and Galatasaray) are in talks with Rafael Leão’s entourage as AC Milan explore outgoing options.

Profile

Season stats

Career

Scout report

Output in context · AC Milan finished 5th of 20 · an upper-table side

Strengths

Watch points

Outlook

Per 90 & availability

Player flow

Season-by-season progression

Value & potential by age

Season statistics

Shooting

Passing

Defending

Yellow/red cards

Transfer history

About Rafael Leão

This season

Field Insider's view

Career

Transfer news

Related players

Career

Per 90 & availability

Player flow

Season-by-season progression

Value & potential by age

Transfer history

About Rafael Leão

This season

Field Insider's view

Career

Transfer news

Related players