AC Milan have confirmed the arrival of Euro 2024 winner Alvaro Morata on a long-term contract from Atletico Madrid.
The 31-year-old has joined Paulo Fonseca's ranks on a four-year deal for a reported €13m (£11m), after the Rossoneri triggered a release clause in his contract with the La Liga giants.
Morata has signed an initial four-year contract with Milan until the summer of 2028, although the San Siro powerhouses also possess the right to extend his deal by an additional 12 months.
The former Chelsea striker will wear the number seven shirt at San Siro, a jersey previously sported by Andriy Shevchenko, Alexandre Pato, Edgar Davids and Paolo Di Canio and Frank Rijkaard.
Morata becomes Milan's second signing of the Fonseca era, following compatriot Alex Gimenez after the right-back's arrival from Real Madrid, and he joins the Italian giants on the back of captaining Spain to Euro 2024 stardom.
Morata played in all seven matches for Luis de la Fuente's side en route to glory in Germany, although he only produced one goal and one assist and was outshone by the likes of Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.
✍ @AlvaroMorata is Rossonero 🔴⚫
— AC Milan (@acmilan) July 19, 2024
Adding a touch of 𝑅𝑜𝑗𝑜 to our #DNACMilan 🧬#SempreMilan
Morata has unfinished business in Serie A
The striker's switch to San Siro comes after a five-and-a-half year spell with Atletico Madrid, who initially signed him on loan from Chelsea midway through the 2018-19 campaign before making his stay permanent in the summer of 2020.
Morata conjured up 58 goals and 14 assists in 154 appearances for Diego Simeone's side, including 21 goals in all competitions in the 2023-24 campaign, but he was not involved in their 2020-21 La Liga title triumph.
That campaign marked the first of two seasons Morata spent on loan at Juventus, whom he had previously represented for two years between 2014 and 2016, either side of his spells at Real Madrid.
Morata made his mark at Juventus during the COVID-19 era, winning one Coppa Italia and one Supercoppa Italiana, and he now returns to Serie A for a third spell in the Italian top flight.
The Spain international will be a direct replacement for MLS-bound Olivier Giroud, while Charles De Ketelaere has joined Atalanta BC permanently and Divock Origi has been demoted to training with the Under-23s.
Milan take on Rapid Vienna in a pre-season friendly on Saturday and kick off the new Serie A campaign against Torino on August 17.
Ben Knapton
