AC Milan have completed their second major signing of the summer under head coach Ruben Amorim. AC Milan today announced the signing of Mario Gila Fuentes from S.S. Lazio. The Spanish defender has signed a contract with the club until 30 June 2031 and will wear the number 34 shirt. The 25-year-old arrives as one of Serie A’s most consistent and composed centre-backs, completing a move that had been weeks in the making.
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Who is Mario Gila?
Mario Gila Fuentes was born on 29 August 2000 in Barcelona, Spain. He stands at 1.85m and plays as a centre-back.
A youth product of various clubs in his native region, including Santa Perpètua, Sabadell, Mollet, Damm and Espanyol, he moved to Real Madrid’s youth academy in 2018, signing a contract until 2024. He was promoted to their reserves in 2019 where he became their stalwart and vice captain under Raúl.
Mario Gila came through the youth ranks in Spain before joining the Real Madrid Academy, completing his development with Real Madrid Castilla and making his First Team debut in the 2021/22 season, when he was part of the squad that won La Liga.
On 12 July 2022, Serie A club Lazio announced Gila’s signing from Real Madrid for €6 million. In the summer of 2022, he joined Lazio, where he made 120 appearances and scored 2 goals across four seasons, standing out for his consistency and gaining experience in both Serie A and European competitions.
Transfer at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Player | Mario Gila Fuentes |
| From | S.S. Lazio |
| To | AC Milan |
| Transfer Fee | €30m |
| Contract Until | 30 June 2031 |
| Age | 25 |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Position | Centre-Back |
| Height | 1.85m (6ft 1in) |
| Shirt Number | 34 |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
Career Timeline
| Club | Years | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Perpètua / Sabadell / Mollet / Damm (Youth) | 2009–2017 | Early development |
| Espanyol (Youth) | 2017–2018 | Moved to Madrid at 18 |
| Real Madrid Academy / Castilla | 2018–2022 | Vice captain under Raúl |
| Real Madrid (First Team) | 2021–22 | La Liga winner |
| S.S. Lazio | 2022–2026 | 120 apps, 2 goals |
| AC Milan | 2026–2031 | Confirmed — No. 34 |
International Career
The Spanish defender made his official debut for the Spain U21 side on 23 September 2022 and was called up in 2023 at the U21 European Championship, making 3 appearances. In 2025, he received his first senior national team call-up.
Last Season at Lazio: The Numbers
Gila was one of Lazio’s most reliable performers across the 2025/26 campaign. Mario Gila appeared in 31 matches this season in Serie A, playing a total of 2,484 minutes. He made 1.70 tackles and 0.98 interceptions for every 90 minutes he was on the pitch, racking up about 3.99 clearances per 90 at the same time. Mario Gila kept a clean sheet in 13 matches out of the 31 that the player played in.
The Spaniard won the most tackles (68) among Lazio players over the last two Serie A seasons, while he also won the second-most duels (289) and recorded the third-most interceptions (53).
2025/26 Season Stats (S.S. Lazio — Serie A)
| Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 31 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Minutes Played | 2,484 |
| Clean Sheets | 13 |
| Tackles per 90 | 1.70 |
| Interceptions per 90 | 0.98 |
| Clearances per 90 | 3.99 |
| Yellow Cards | 5 |
| Red Cards | 1 |
The Deal: How It Came Together
After a rejected bid worth around €27 million, the club were always going to return to the table quickly. After a meeting with his agent, Gila headed to Casa Milan to sign a deal.
The 25-year-old put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the Rossoneri after a reported €30m fee was agreed between the two Serie A clubs.
Gila arrived in Milan on Thursday after saying his goodbyes to teammates and staff at Lazio’s training ground in Formello. He completed his medical examinations on Friday before officially signing his contract and is expected to join Milan’s preseason preparations, which begin on July 13.
For Real Madrid, Gila’s transfer represents another example of the club benefiting financially from the strategic clauses it has included in deals involving former academy graduates, adding another €10 million to the club’s coffers without having to sell a current first-team player.
Transfer Fee Breakdown
| Transaction | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid → Lazio | €6m | 2022 |
| Lazio → AC Milan | €30m | 2026 |
| Real Madrid Sell-On Clause | €10m | 2026 |
| Rise in Transfer Value | +€24m in four years | — |
Gila’s Own Words
“This shirt has a really special weight to it, which I’m aware of. I’m here to learn and give my all on the pitch in order to reach the levels that have made AC Milan great.”
“We can do great things together. I feel like I can reach my full potential here,” Gila told the official club social media channels. “I’m a real perfectionist; I never give up, and I always aim as high as I can in every aspect of my life, whether that’s on or off the pitch.”
Milan’s Defensive Rebuild Under Amorim
Gila becomes Milan’s second signing since the arrival of head coach Ruben Amorim, with Gonçalo Ramos also joining the Rossoneri this summer for a club-record fee.
The arrival of Gila directly addresses a need that has been widely discussed at the San Siro. Milan finished fifth in Serie A last season and are set to compete in the Europa League in 2026/27. Milan begin their 2026–27 Serie A campaign on August 23 against Torino, while their first home game comes five days later against Venezia.
Gila’s profile — commanding in the air, strong in the tackle, and composed on the ball — fits precisely the kind of defender Amorim demands in his system.
AC Milan’s Projected Defensive Line (2026/27)
| Player | Nationality | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mario Gila | Spain | New Signing — €30m |
| Luka Modrić | Croatia | Midfield anchor behind defence |
| Gonçalo Ramos | Portugal | New Signing — Club Record |
| Strahinja Pavlović | Serbia | Established starter |
Lazio Career Stats Summary
| Season | Apps (Serie A) | Goals | Clean Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2023–24 | 21 | 0 | — |
| 2024–25 | 32 | 1 | — |
| 2025–26 | 31 | 0 | 13 |
| Total | 120 | 2 | — |
Read More: Yan Diomande to Real Madrid – Agreement Closed with RB Leipzig for Over €100m
FAQs
How much did AC Milan pay for Mario Gila?
AC Milan agreed a reported €30m fee with Lazio for the 25-year-old Spanish centre-back. An initial bid of approximately €27m was rejected before a final agreement was reached.
How long is Mario Gila’s contract at AC Milan?
Mario Gila has signed a contract with AC Milan until 30 June 2031, keeping him at the Rossoneri for five years.
What shirt number will Mario Gila wear at AC Milan?
Gila will wear the number 34 shirt at AC Milan, the same number he wore during his time at Lazio.
What is Mario Gila’s connection to Real Madrid?
Gila came through the Real Madrid Academy, completing his development with Real Madrid Castilla and making his first-team debut in the 2021/22 season, when he was part of the squad that won La Liga. Real Madrid benefit from a sell-on clause included in the original deal, adding another €10 million to their coffers.
Who is Mario Gila’s new manager at AC Milan?
Gila becomes Milan’s second signing since the arrival of head coach Ruben Amorim, who has taken charge of the Rossoneri ahead of the 2026–27 season following a highly successful spell at Manchester United.
