Ismaël Bennacer joins Al Gharafa SC on free transfer

Al Gharafa SC has officially signed Algerian midfielder Ismaël Bennacer on a free transfer. The 28-year-old joins the Qatari club following his departure from Italian side AC Milan by mutual consent.

Bennacer brings extensive European experience to Al Gharafa, having played 178 official matches for AC Milan, including 137 in Serie A, where he helped the team secure the league title in the 2021-2022 season. His career also includes stints with Empoli, Marseille, and Dynamo Zagreb. He was a key member of the Algerian national team that won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

The signing comes as Bennacer seeks to revitalize his career following a serious knee injury during the 2022-2023 season and a period of limited playing time. He is expected to make his debut for Al Gharafa in their upcoming AFC Champions League Elite fixture against Al Hilal.