AC Milan, Diego Moreira official: fee, contract and Kaká's No 22
After a long wait, the official statement announcing AC Milan’s new signing has arrived.
Diego Moreira is, for all intents and purposes, a new AC Milan player. The Belgian winger of Portuguese origin arrived in Milan two days ago, had the customary medical examinations and today completed the full contract-signing process while waiting for Jorge Mendes to arrive in Italy to formalise everything.
Jorge Mendes spent more than six hours at Casa Milan, which suggests that, beyond the deal for the Strasbourg winger, there is still strong synergy with Gerry Cardinale over the club's future moves. First, though, comes the long-awaited announcement of an operation of major economic importance.
The statement
AC Milan have announced the permanent signing of Diego Moreira from Strasbourg. The Belgian winger has signed a contract with the Rossoneri until 30 June 2031 and will wear the 22 shirt.
Born in Liège on 6 August 2004, Diego Moreira came through the youth systems at Standard Liège and Benfica, where he completed his development before moving into professional football. At the Lisbon club, he stood out in the youth ranks, winning the UEFA Youth League with the Under-19s in the 2021/22 season and, a few months later, the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup. He also made his UEFA Champions League debut the following season, featuring in the qualifying rounds of the 2022/23 edition.
In the summer of 2023, he moved to Chelsea and made his first-team debut on 30 August that year in the Carabao Cup tie against Wimbledon.
During the 2023/24 season, he also wore the Olympique Lyon shirt, before joining Strasbourg on a permanent deal in the summer of 2024. In Alsace, he gradually established himself as one of the most exciting young players in the French league, showing pace, technical quality and tactical versatility.
On the international stage, Diego Moreira represented Portugal at youth level up to the Under-21s and also played at the 2023 Under-21 European Championship. Since 2025, he has worn the shirt of the Belgium senior national team, making his debut in the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and taking part in the final stage of the competition.
AC Milan extend a warm welcome to Diego and wish him every success, both personally and with the team, in the Rossoneri shirt.
The real figures
To prise him away from the competition, with Roma also having tried, AC Milan put a huge offer on the table: €50 million fixed plus bonuses, which could take the deal to €65-66 million. Strasbourg will also keep a percentage of any future resale.
Meanwhile, Diego Moreira has signed a contract running until 30 June 2031 with wages of €3 million net per season plus bonuses and the inevitable commission for Jorge Mendes, the architect of this operation.
Kaká’s 22
Diego Moreira has finally chosen his new squad number. A standout performer for Belgium in the number 24 shirt, he will wear number 22 at AC Milan, the shirt made famous by Ricardo Kakà and left vacant after Emerson Royal's departure last summer.
