AC Milan striker Alvaro Morata has joined Galatasaray in a 12-month loan deal with an €8million purchase option, the clubs announced on Sunday.

The deal, for which Milan will charge a €6m loan fee, will run until January 2026, when Galatasaray will have the option to make Morata's stay in Turkiye permanent.

In a statement, Galatasaray confirmed Morata will receive a guaranteed salary of €3m for the second half of the 2024-25 season and a further €3m for the first half of 2025-26.

The 32-year-old captain of Spain's national team, Morata joined Milan from LaLiga club Atletico Madrid last year for €13m, penning a four-year contract.

He has started 13 of Milan's 22 league games this season, netting five goals from chances worth 3.87 expected goals (xG) in Serie A. Only Tijjani Reijnders (seven) and Christian Pulisic (six) have outscored him for the Rossoneri.

Morata also started seven of Sergio Conceicaco's first eight games in charge of Milan, but he was absent from their squad as they drew 1-1 with rivals Inter on Sunday.

He will now look to help Galatasaray get over the line in the Turkish Super Lig title race, with Okan Buruk's team holding a three-point advantage over Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce, with a game in hand. 

Galatasaray must inform Milan by January 15, 2026 if they wish to sign Morata permanently for a fee of €8m, according to the Turkish club's statement.

Should they choose not to activate the buy option by that date, they will have the right to extend the loan period until June 30, 2026. They could then activate another clause allowing them to sign him for an increased price at that time.

Morata began his career with Real Madrid and has also represented Juventus and Chelsea. He helped Madrid win the Champions League, LaLiga and Copa del Rey twice each and claimed two Serie A titles with Juventus.