AC Milan have confirmed the signing of Algerian midfielder Ismael Bennacer. Bennacer has joined from Italian side Empoli on a five-year deal, penning a contract with the Rossoneri until 2024. Bennacer joins the Rossoneri after his former club Arsenal reportedly declined the chance to re-sign the midfielder as per an agreement in his contract. Milan have paid a figure in the region of £14.4m for the promising youngster. He has followed the path of Rade Krunic, who left Empoli this summer for the dizzy heights of Milan as well, joining for £7.2m. Bennacer was outstanding at AFCON, winning the Player of the Tournament and building on an impressive season at Empoli, despite the campaign ending in relegation. The Italian giants had to fight off reported interest from Serie A rivals Napoli, but Marco Giampaolo has now secured his man. VIDEO Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel here. This summer has been one of change at the San Siro. Giampaolo has come in to replace the fiery Gennaro Gattuso and is clearly intent on putting his stamp on the side. The signing of Bennacer took their spending to over £90m: the marquee signings being Theo Hernandez from Real Madrid following his loan spell at Real Sociedad, the permanent signing of Franck Kessie – a player who could well be the Algerian’s midfield partner – and Rafael Leao for £32m from Lille. Promising young forward Patrick Cutrone has surprisingly been allowed to go to Wolves for £16m and stalwarts Cristian Zapata, Ignazio Abate and Riccardo Montolivo are three of 12 senior players to have left Milan this summer.
AC Milan has signed Algerian Ismael Bennacer from Empoli FC for $17.5m (around £14.4m) in a five-year deal. Bennacer won player of the tournament during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He joined Milan after Arsenal FC chose not to take up a contract clause to re-sign the player, according to reports.