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Diego Moreira insight: Scouting report, stats, transfer rating and more

Photo: AC Milan

AC Milan officially welcomed their fourth signing of the summer on Wednesday as Diego Moreira joined from Strasbourg.

Milan had not been linked with a move for Moreira, or at least not since his days at Benfica, so it came as a surprise on Monday when talk of an agreement arose. Fabrizio Romano quickly gave the ‘here we go’ on an operation that could reach over €65m, including bonuses.

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The 22-year-old landed in Italy on Tuesday and he underwent his medical tests before heading to sign his contract on Wednesday evening. Moreira chose the No.22 shirt that Kaka famously wore, and it is believe that Ruben Amorim and Alexis Saelemaekers played key roles.

Milan are getting a very versatile player, who has played seven roles already in his young career. Rohit Rajeev has broken down the strengths, weakness and data behind the latest summer addition.

Back story

Diego Manuel Jadon da Silva Moreira was born on 6 August 2004 in Liege, Belgium. His father is the former Guinea-Bissau international Almami Moreira, and he was playing for Standard Liege at the time, hence the place of his birth.

The footballing lineage doesn’t stop there, either: his mother is Émilie Graf and through her side Moreira is the grandson of Helmut Graf, a German-born footballer who also played for the Belgian club from 1976 to 1982.

His father played for Standard until 2006, and when he was young Diego joined their youth academy where he would remain until 2020. Things were not looking great one year before that though as he tried to leave in 2019, even training with Lierse Kempenzonen.

The Belgian federation did not allow him to switch clubs, so 12 months on he departed Les Rouches for Portuguese giants Benfica. He would sign his first professional contract with the Lisbon-based club, the city where his father Almami was living at the time.

Diego joined Benfica’s U23 team in the Liga Revelação midway through the 2020–21 season and he became a regular starter the next season. His first goal for them came in a 3-0 derby win over city rivals Sporting CP.

Then came the step up to the second team Benfica B (the equivalent of Milan Futuro) at the start of 2022. However, it is in the UEFA Youth League where Moreira left a mark as Benfica U19 topped their group with Dynamo Kyiv, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

He scored a goal against Bayern during a 4–0 home win in October 2021, then he scored twice and got two assists in a 4–0 win against Sporting in the quarter-finals. Moreira provided another two assists in the final in a 6–0 win over RB Salzburg, giving the Eagles their maiden Youth League title.

A call-up from the senior team finally came later in the season under the then-interim coach Nélson Veríssimo. He and seven other Benfica youth team players were present on 13 May 2022, when Moreira came on in a 2–0 away win to Paços de Ferreira in the Primeira Liga.

That summer Moreira made it clear he would not sign a new deal and so he was demoted to Benfica B, and then again to the U23s. At the age of 17, the time had come for him to flee the nest.

In July 2023, Moreira joined Premier League club Chelsea on a free transfer. It didn’t take long for a senior debut to follow, as he played in an EFL Cup second round tie against AFC Wimbledon on August 30, but was then immediately sent to Lyon on a season-long loan.

Moreira made his debut for French club on 17 September against Le Havre, and six days later made his first start away against Brest. He was recalled from his loan by Chelsea midway through the season having made just nine appearances.

After just 12 months at Stamford Bridge, another change in scenery was coming: on 16 August 2024, Moreira joined Ligue 1 club Strasbourg on a permanent deal. Six weeks later, scored his first goal for the Alsace club in a 1–0 victory over Marseille.

With Strasbourg he worked under managers like Liam Rosenior and Gary O’Neill in a range of different styles and systems. He earned a reputation as a real versatility man, playing as many as seven positions from full-back to winger, attacking midfielder to wing-back.

In terms of his international career, Moreira was spoiled for choice given he holds dual Belgium and Portugal citizenship, while also being able to represent Guinea-Bissau and Germany due to family ties.

Moreira first played with the Belgium U15 in February 2019 in a 3-1 away win against England, but then in 2019 he switched to Portugal, representing them from U16 to U18 level.

In May 2025, Moreira put in an official request to switch his international allegiance to Belgium and it was approved by FIFA. He was called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against North Macedonia and Wales in June 2025, and made the 2026 World Cup squad too, playing once.

Strengths and weaknesses

At 1.79m, Moreira has a body type between the mesomorph and endomorph categories, complemented by a low centre of gravity that can aid his balance and changes of direction.

He combines medium to long strides with an impressive top speed of 34.5 km/h. His work rate is equally notable, covering 10.4 km per game and averaging 22.8 sprints per match.

For context, Dimarco averages 18.2, while Leão averages 13.6. That sprint volume highlights Moreira’s ability to repeatedly contribute to both phases.

Physicality: Moreira is not the most physically dominant player and is unlikely to consistently hold off defenders or use his strength to hold up play.

However, he makes clever use of his body in duels. He often looks to nudge opponents with his shoulder, using timing and leverage to disrupt their balance.

We can see this against Monaco, where Moreira nudges striker Biereth to knock him off balance and gain an advantage.

It is a subtle aspect of his game, but one that shows good awareness of how to use his body despite lacking brute strength.

First touch and ball control: One of Moreira’s standout technical qualities is his excellent first touch. He can control the ball with the inside of his foot even while moving at speed, allowing him to maintain momentum rather than having to slow down.

His ability to bring down aerial or difficult passes is equally impressive, giving him the control needed to receive under pressure.

When shifting the ball across his body, Moreira frequently uses the outside of his boot, allowing him to change direction quickly and accelerate into space.

Speed with the ball: For an attacking player, especially a dribbler, it is not just about how fast you are without the ball, but how quickly you can travel while keeping it under control.

This is one of Moreira’s standout qualities.
His sleek touches and excellent ball control allow him to carry the ball at high speed while keeping it close to his feet.

He does not need to sacrifice control for acceleration, which makes him particularly dangerous when attacking open space.

Creating separation: Moreira has a wide variety of ways to create separation from defenders, particularly through his movement off the ball.

One of his key habits is to constantly scan his surroundings and adjust his position through subtle movements and well-timed runs.

In this example, He pulls away at the right moment, creating enough distance so that neither defender can easily step out to press him.

1v1 ability: Another way Moreira creates separation is by simply taking his man on. He is a willing 1v1 dribbler who actively looks to engage defenders rather than always relying on off the ball movement to create space.

His close control, quick touches and acceleration allow him to attack defenders directly and create the separation needed to progress the attack.

Crossing: Moreira has a wide range of crossing techniques, with the quality of his delivery standing out as another strength.

He consistently looks to get the ball ahead of himself before crossing, allowing him to generate momentum and deliver with greater consistency.

When making an early cross, he often targets vacant areas with an outswinging delivery, making it difficult for defenders to attack.

When he reaches more advanced positions, he tends to whip the ball towards the near post or central areas, giving teammates different options to attack. A varied crossing repertoire that makes him difficult to predict.

Dribbling in tight spaces: Moreira possesses a high level of close control, allowing him to operate effectively in congested areas and dribble out of pressure.

He often receives the ball with his body facing the opposition goal, giving him the ability to immediately turn, attack space and progress the move.

His ability to escape pressure makes him a constant problem between the lines and in advanced areas. It is also why opponents often look to double team him when he receives in dangerous positions, recognising the difficulty of stopping him 1v1.

General ball progression: Moreira’s ability to progress the ball goes beyond his individual dribbling. He also shows a good understanding of how to combine with team-mates.

One of his useful tools is the give and go, using quick 1-2 combinations to move beyond defenders and continue his run into space.

This gives him another way to progress when a direct dribble is not the best option, making his attacking game more varied.

Beating pressure: Moreira has a strong ability to play out of pressure, particularly against horizontal pressing, where his quick release of the ball becomes a key weapon.

Opponents often try to force him towards the byline, using the touchline to limit his options. However, Moreira consistently identifies small gaps in the press and releases the ball quickly through them, allowing him to escape pressure and keep the move progressing.

Shooting:  Moreira possesses an acrobatic shooting technique, particularly when attacking difficult balls or awkward shooting situations.

His ability to strike the ball with his left foot from a variety of angles also makes him difficult for goalkeepers to anticipate. He does not always need to set himself perfectly before shooting, allowing him to get attempts away from positions where a goalkeeper may not expect it.

Pressing intelligence: Moreira contributes to the press by looking to cut off passing lanes higher up the pitch, rather than simply chasing the ball carrier.

He will often adjust his positioning to cover two passing lanes simultaneously, using his body orientation to restrict the opposition’s options.

He also engages in back pressing, closing down from behind to eliminate the option of playing the ball back to a supporting player. His pressing is therefore based more on positioning and anticipation than pure aggression.

1v1 defending: When defending one-on-one, Moreira adopts a side on stance, placing his right foot forward while keeping his stronger left foot behind.

He positions himself almost parallel to the ball carrier, using his body shape to take away the option of cutting inside and force the attacker towards the outside.

A simple but effective defensive stance that shows an understanding of how to use his body positioning to control the duel.

Defensive positioning: Moreira constantly adjusts his positioning based on the movement of the ball and opposition players, allowing him to react to different situations.

His positioning often gives him multiple options. He can step out from the defensive line to press a player receiving between the lines, while still maintaining the ability to recover if the ball is played in behind.

He also does a good job of covering vertical passing lanes and protecting the space behind the defensive line. This combination of anticipation, positioning and recovery ability makes him a good depth defender.

Counter-pressing: Moreira shows an aggressive approach to counter pressing when he loses possession. Rather than immediately retreating, he uses his pace to close down the ball carrier, applying pressure as quickly as possible after the turnover.

His pressing is strongly ball oriented, allowing him to attack the player in possession and attempt to win the ball back before the opposition can establish their attack. His acceleration therefore becomes an important defensive tool immediately after losing possession.

Recovery pace: Moreira’s recovery pace is another valuable defensive attribute. His acceleration allows him to quickly recover his position when possession is lost or when an opponent manages to play beyond him.

This gives him the ability to cover ground rapidly, track runners and help defend spaces in behind, adding another layer of security to his game.

Areas to improve

At the age of 22, Moreira certainly has room to grow into being close to the finished article, and the last two years in France have really helped him in this regard. However, there are some further areas where work is required.

Defensive positioning: One of the most obvious concerns about Moreira is that his tendency is so attack-heavy that he sometimes struggles in the other phase of the game, which is tracking back and defending.

While his shape when in position is good (as mentioned above), there are currently still a few too many occasions where the Belgian has perhaps picked the wrong moment to go forward, leaving the space in behind and the left centre-back exposed.

Amorim is a coach who likes balance with his wing-backs, with the other dropping back if the other pushes up. With Moreira and potentially Samu Chukwueze on the other flank, there is a risk that a five-man attacking line regularly develops.

This was an issue that the coach faced at Manchester United and ultimately never really truly remedied, as we highlighted in our tactical analysis of his time there:

“One potential weakness in Amorim’s system emerges during build-up phases. With the wing-backs positioned high and wide to stretch the opposition, a sudden turnover can leave significant space between the outside centre-backs and the wing-backs.

“This creates an inviting channel for opponents to attack immediately in transition, particularly if they have quick wingers or forwards capable of exploiting open spaces. It is a risk that comes with Amorim’s aggressive positional structure.”

One-footed nature: While the Liege-born wide man can play various different positions, it does not mean that he is just as good with his weaker right foot. Instead, he actually has quite a high reliance on his dominant left foot.

This can make it easier for defenders to force him onto his weaker right side. When he is playing on the right, this means he is forced outside rather than being able to drive infield.

Strength: Moreira is not as week as Chukwueze or Estupinan when it comes to 1v1 duels, but at times his upper body strength (or lack thereof) is exposed in shoulder-to-shoulder duels when he is bumped off the ball.

This is generally only an issue against physically powerful opponents, but in Serie A there are plenty of those, especially in the wide areas given that around three-quarters of the league also play with wing-backs.

Shooting efficiency: The former Chelsea man can record low conversion rates relative to the number of total shots he takes from wide areas. He still needs to improve his decision-making in the final third at time (knowing when to cross vs. shoot, for example) but there is time for this.

Tactical fit

Moreira’s experience under Rosenior in a 3-4-2-1 makes his profile particularly interesting for Milan. At Strasbourg, he operates as the LWB in their 3-2-5 possession structure, which has several similarities to the positional demands of Amorim’s system.

🔹 His ability to form passing triangles during build up can provide another route through the first line of pressure.

🔹 His tendency to stay wide on the right could be particularly useful for Pulisic, allowing him to occupy the half space while Moreira provides the width.

🔹 His ability to play out of horizontal pressing through quick releases could be valuable in Serie A, where teams frequently look to trap wide players.

🔹 His crossing ability would complement Gonçalo Ramos, particularly given the striker’s ability to attack aerial deliveries.

🔹 His ability to create separation through dribbling and off the ball movement gives Milan another way to progress and destabilise defensive structures.

Out of possession, there are also several reasons for optimism:

🔴 His aggressive pressing fits Amorim’s desire to win the ball high up the pitch.

🔴 His 1v1 defending could become particularly valuable in Europa League matches.

🔴 His recovery ability provides protection against counter attacks.

🔴 His positioning and depth defending could also help Milan maintain a high defensive line.

The data

As mentioned above, the flexibility of the many roles that Moreira can be deployed in really stands out. During spells with Benfica, Lyon, Chelsea and Strasbourg, he played seven different positions.

The spot that Moreira has frequented most is actually as a left winger, more specifically on the left in a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 formation. In his 45 games there, the numbers are impressive: eight goals and 11 assists. After that it is right wing, with seven goals and seven assists in 34 games across various clubs.

Narrowing things down a bit to just his time at Strasbourg – where things had begun to really take off – the findings are similarly intriguing given he played in six different roles across his 76 games.

Predominantly the Liege-born wide man was used as a left wing-back in Alsace (25 matches, one goal, seven assists) but was more effective as a right winger (19 games, four goals, five assists).

Left-back (13 games, one goal, two assists), left wing (six games, one goal, one assist), right wing-back (five goals, one assist) and attacking midfield (two games, no goal contributions) complete the picture.

Looking at some more specific performance-related metrics, the following is from Opta:

➤⁠ ⁠4 goals from 2.02 xG. Means he has over-performed his xG.

➤⁠ ⁠34 accurate passes per game which is less but this because of playing in the opposition final third.

➤⁠ ⁠0.49 chances created ranking in 89th percentile meaning he is one of the best creators in Ligue 1.

➤⁠ ⁠1.59 successful dribbles per game. 75th percentile in ligue 1. Shows how his game is extremely dependent on dribbling.

➤ ⁠0.32 dribbled past which is a very low number which shows his strong 1v1 defending.

➤⁠ ⁠1.94 tackles which is 65th percentile showing he is above average in making tackles.

➤ ⁠Possession won in final third in 0.57 which is in 40th percentile which needs to improve.

A look at the data from Moreira’s 2024-25 Ligue 1 data (when he played more as a wing-back) versus his new team-mates – Pervis Estupinan, Davide Bartesaghi and Alexis Saelemaekers – makes for quite an interesting comparison.

The Belgian ranks best in ball carrying, second-best for crosses, top for Expected Assists, worst for progressive passes, worst for possessions won, best for defensive duel % and second-worst for aerial duel %.

moreira comparison

Transfer rating

Overall, Moreira’s tactical experience, technical qualities and defensive profile make him an intriguing fit for Amorim’s positional and pressing principles. Milan have addressed a key position of need too, signing what should be an instant starter.

In theory his style of play and his versatility make him an exciting potential fit. The one reservation is the fee paid and how good the Belgian must be in order to justify a potential €66m outlay, but that isn’t something for the immediate future.

Transfer rating: 7/10 (with potential to become a 9)

Tags AC Milan Diego Moreira

8 Comments

    1. Thank you, I was going to comment the same thing. Genuinely don’t understand the rating system here.

    4. With all the overrated ratings in previous transfers it is refreshing to have them come down a bit to a more realistic level. Bondo was rated 8 out of 10 for instance. He was never near that even with potential. Moreira is rated as the best left midfielder in all of transfermarkt, and gets a 7. I’m sure the price tag has something to do with us as we’re easily overpaying by 30m. Wish him all the luck too

  2. Honestly this signing is the most exciting one in a long time.

    We have been lacking speedsters (Leao bastrd hardly runs anymore)

    1. My feeling exactly. This type of player is something that excites me more than an Goncalo Ramos type of goalscorer. I actually wasn’t planning on seeing this season based on how bad last season was. But this player actually might make me have to reconsider. I said it on another comment, he can become our new Theo. Theo was my favourite player during the Pioli years. So to have someone of his level will be nice, not Estupinan och some other half assed players.

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