Bennacer leaves Milan having not played a competitive match for the club since 2025. His departure follows a period in which fitness interruptions limited his availability and reduced his role in the squad.
The move to Al Gharafa is completed rather than a reported negotiation, with the contract termination agreed by mutual consent. It takes Bennacer to a new league after his recent spells in France and Croatia failed to provide sustained first-team involvement at Milan.
His record in Italy remains significant. Bennacer joined Milan from Empoli in 2019 and became an important part of the midfield that won the Serie A title in 2021-22. His ability to retain possession and control the tempo made him particularly valuable during that campaign.
The transfer reflects the effect of repeated knee problems on a player who had previously established himself at club and international level. Bennacer was also a key figure in Algeria’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, the defining achievement of his international career.
However, his recent trajectory has been sharply different. The report says he was omitted from Algeria’s squad for this year’s World Cup, underlining the gap between his previous status and his current competitive position.
For Al Gharafa, the appeal is clear: the club has acquired a midfielder with proven experience in Serie A and international football. For Bennacer, the priority is continuity. Regular appearances would offer the most direct route to rebuilding his fitness, rhythm and reputation.
Bennacer’s first challenge will be managing his workload after a succession of injury interruptions. The Qatar move cannot erase the lack of competitive football at Milan, but it provides a new environment in which he can attempt to establish consistency.
His performances for Al Gharafa will determine whether this becomes a late-career reset or simply another short chapter in a career increasingly shaped by fitness setbacks.