Luka Modric Completes Move To Milan On One-Year Deal

Croatia captain Luka Modric has completed his move to AC Milan after leaving Real Madrid, where he spent 13 years, the Serie A club announced on Monday.

The midfielder signed a one-year contract with an option to extend until June 2027.

Modric’s arrival was first confirmed earlier this month by newly appointed Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri.

In an Instagram video shared by Milan, the 39-year-old, who will turn 40 in September, expressed his excitement: “Very happy to be here to start a new chapter in my career.”

He will wear the number 14 shirt at Milan, a number he previously donned during his four years at Tottenham Hotspur as a tribute to Dutch legend Johan Cruyff.

“It’s an immense honour for them to compare me to (Cruyff)… I wore the no. 14 at Tottenham in honour of him, and because the no. 10 wasn’t available,” Modric said after winning the Ballon d’Or in 2018.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in football history, Modric announced in May that he would depart Real Madrid following the Club World Cup. During his 597 appearances for the Spanish giants, he secured 28 trophies, including four LaLiga titles and six Champions League crowns.

He played his final match for Real last Wednesday, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-finals.

“It’s a bitter end… he’s a legend of world football and of Real Madrid. He’ll be remembered for many more good things than for the 25 minutes he played today,” Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso remarked after the game.

Modric, Croatia’s most capped player with 188 appearances and 28 goals, won the Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup after leading his nation to the final for the first time. Later that year, he won the Ballon d’Or, becoming the first player outside of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the award since 2007.

His signing strengthens a Milan midfield that already includes Youssouf Fofana, Yunus Musah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Samuele Ricci, who joined from Torino earlier this month.

AC Milan, who finished eighth in Serie A last season and missed out on European competition, will kick off their 2025-26 campaign against newly promoted Cremonese on August 23.