Qatari club Al-Gharafa SC have taken the lead in the race to sign Ismael Bennacer, who is set to terminate his contract with AC Milan early.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Qatar Stars League club Al-Gharafa SC are now leading the race to sign former Arsenal midfielder Ismael Bennacer, sending the player an official proposal.
Romano had previously reported that Bennacer was set to leave AC Milan by mutual contract termination, with fellow Qatari club Al-Shamal SC leading the race at the time.
But it seems Al-Gharafa are closing in on a hijack, picking up the former Gunner on a free transfer.
Bennacer has a year left on his AC Milan deal, but they evidently feel it’s for the best to let him go without a transfer fee. Bennacer spent the last couple of seasons largely out on loan, playing for Marseille and GNK Dinamo and making 31 appearances between the two clubs.
After some injury issues in 2025/26, it was always unlikely Milan were going to be able to cash in on Bennacer this summer.
Bennacer’s last Milan contract (signed in 2023) had included a €50m release clause, and there was a time when it seemed as though a club might eventually pay it. Arsenal were one of the teams regularly linked with a move.
But things have gone downhill since then, and the 28-year-old is now set to rebuild his career on a new continent.
Arsenal initially signed Bennacer in 2015, quickly giving him his first-team debut in the League Cup at the age of 17. But that ended up being the midfielder’s only appearance for the Gunners’ first team.
Bennacer signed for Empoli in Serie B, winning promotion and playing a campaign in Serie A before he caught the attention of AC Milan. Arsenal earned some money through a sell-on clause on that occasion, but they won’t get anything this time around.
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