Luka Modric has completed his move to AC Milan on a one-year deal, with an option to extend until June 2027, the Serie A club confirmed on Monday.
The 39-year-old Croatian leaves Real Madrid after 13 seasons, during which he made 597 appearances and won 28 trophies, including six Champions League titles and four LaLiga crowns.
“Very happy to be here to start a new chapter in my career,” Modric said in a video posted on Milan’s Instagram account. He will wear the number 14 shirt, a nod to his idol Johan Cruyff, whose number he previously wore at Tottenham.
Modric played his final game for Real Madrid as a substitute in last week’s 4-0 Club World Cup semi-final defeat to PSG.
“He’ll be remembered for many more good things than for the 25 minutes he played today,” said Real manager Xabi Alonso.
Regarded as Croatia’s greatest ever player, Modric has earned 188 caps and won the 2018 World Cup Golden Ball after leading his country to their first final.
That same year, he became the first player outside the Messi-Ronaldo era to win the Ballon d’Or since 2007.
His arrival bolsters a Milan midfield featuring Youssouf Fofana, Yunus Musah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and new signing Samuele Ricci. Milan open their Serie A season against Cremonese on August 23.
