Official: Alexis Saelemaekers joins Bologna on loan with an option to buy

Belgian midfielder Alexis Saelemaekers has officially left AC Milan and signed for fellow Serie A side Bologna on loan with an option to make the deal permanent next summer.

As was announced by Milan on the official website on Wednesday afternoon, Saelemaekers will not be a part of Stefano Pioli’s squad this season after the arrivals of Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chukwueze.

As part of the statement, Milan said: “The Rossoneri wishes Alexis the best of luck for the next sporting season.”

Since arriving at Milan, Saelemaekers has made an impressive 140 appearances for the Rossoneri. In that time, he never quite held down a regular starting spot but he did score 10 goals and get 14 assists.

With Bologna and Milan having already faced each other once this season, he will only face Milan on one occasion unless the teams are drawn together in the Coppa Italia.

Saelemaekers is expected to become an important part of Thiago Motta’s Bologna team.