Chelsea handed boost in their pursuit of Rafael Leao

May 30, 2025

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea have received a massive boost in their pursuit of AC Milan attacking mainstay Rafael Leao.

According to a report from Football Insider, Chelsea could finally end up signing their long-term target Rafael Leao this summer. The Blues have received a significant boost in their pursuit of the Portuguese international as AC Milan could be forced to cash in on him.

On the back of an impressive season at LOSC Lille, Leao joined Milan in the summer of 2019. He has only gone from strength to strength over the years. Of late, he has been a key figure in their team and a regular in the Portuguese national team.

While he wasn’t at his best during the 2024/25 season, the 25-year-old winger still had 12 goals and 13 assists in his 50 outings. He still has three years left on his deal with the Italian giants but he could be on the move this summer amidst interest from Chelsea.

Chelsea could now sign Leao this summer

The London club have had him on their radar for a very long time. They have been closely monitoring him and are ready to once again try and sign him this summer. While Milan have fought hard to keep him at San Siro so far, they might not be able to do it this time around.

The Blues have received a boost in their long-term pursuit as the Italian club have failed to qualify for any of the European competitions. This could give them a window of opportunity to sign him. Milan could be forced to listen to offers for him and they could cash in on him if they receive the right fee.

Chelsea need a new left-winger as they are unlikely to exercise the option to sign Jadon Sancho permanently. They consider Leao a perfect fit for their system and are prepared to push hard for his signature. More importantly, they can offer Champions League football. It’s a perfect opportunity for the London club, and it will be interesting to see how things unfold.