Transfer Centre

Real Madrid confirm return and new contract for Brahim Diaz

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 10 June 2023

Real Madrid confirm that Brahim Diaz will be a part of their first-team squad next season after returning from a loan spell at AC Milan.

Real Madrid have confirmed that Brahim Diaz will be a part of their first-team squad next season, with the attacker back at the club after three years on loan at AC Milan.

The 23-year-old started his professional career at Manchester City, making 15 appearances for the English outfit, before moving to Real Madrid in January 2019.

Diaz found it difficult to secure regular action for Los Blancos, though, only featuring on 11 times in the second half of the 2018-19 campaign and just 10 times in total in 2019-20.

The attacker's struggles for football led to him leaving for Milan on loan, and he spent the 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns with the Italian outfit.

Diaz has now been recalled to Bernabeu, though, and he has also been handed a new contract by Carlo Ancelotti's side until the summer of 2027.

Brahim Diaz in action for Real Madrid on May 19, 2019 © Reuters

"Real Madrid CF announces that on Tuesday, June 13, at 12:00 at Real Madrid City, the presentation ceremony for Brahim Diaz will take place, who will return as a player for our club until June 30, 2027, after his loan for three seasons at AC Milan," read an official statement from the club.

The Spain international made 124 appearances for Milan, scoring 18 goals and contributing 15 assists in the process, winning the 2021-22 Serie A title.

Diaz's most productive campaign on a personal level came in 2022-23, as he featured on 45 occasions in all competitions, scoring seven goals and registering seven assists.

"You brought joy to the San Siro. Thank you for everything, best of luck. Forza Brahim!" Milan posted on their official Twitter account when the news was confirmed.

Inter Milan's Henrikh Mkhitaryan in action with AC Milan's Brahim Diaz on May 16, 2023 © Reuters

The decision to bring Diaz back to the club was reportedly made after it was announced that Marco Asensio and Eden Hazard would be leaving on free transfers at the end of this month.

Karim Benzema and Mariano Diaz have also departed, leaving Real Madrid short in the final third of the field, which will lead to them making at least two attacking additions.

Fran Garcia is Real Madrid's first signing of the summer transfer window, with the Spaniard returning to the club from Rayo Vallecano.

Meanwhile, a deal for Jude Bellingham is close to going through, with Los Blancos widely expected to announce his arrival from Borussia Dortmund next week.

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane is currently being linked with a move to Bernabeu, but a recent report claimed that Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez had emerged as an alternative to the England captain.