Diego Moreira

Diego Moreira is a Belgian winger who joined AC Milan in August 2026 [1]. AC Milan announced his signing from RC Strasbourg on 19 August, and his contract runs until 30 June 2031. He wears the number 22 [1]. beIN Sports reported a fee of €50m, plus €16m in add-ons, on a five-year contract [3]. The club's own statement does not give a fee [1]. The club's feature says he plays mainly on the left flank but can operate on the right, and that he has also played as a wing-back, full-back and attacking midfielder [2].

Born in Liège, raised in two academies

He was born in Liège on 6 August 2004 [1] [5]. His full name is Diego Manuel Jadon da Silva Moreira [2]. His father, Almami, was a Guinea-Bissau international and a Standard Liège midfielder when Diego was born. His grandfather, Helmut Graf, played for the same club from 1976 to 1982 [2]. He left home at 15 to pursue football [4].

He came through the academies of Standard Liège and Benfica [1]. He joined Benfica in the summer of 2020 and signed his first professional contract there [2]. With Benfica's Under-19s he helped win the UEFA Youth League in 2021/22. A few months later he lifted the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup [1]. His Champions League debut came in a qualifier against Midtjylland in August 2022 [2].

Chelsea, Lyon and Strasbourg

Chelsea signed him in the summer of 2023. His first-team debut came in August, in a Carabao Cup tie against AFC Wimbledon [2].

In 2023/24 he played on loan for Olympique Lyonnais. He made nine appearances in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France, then returned in January 2024 [2]. He moved to RC Strasbourg permanently in the summer of 2024 [1]. Over two seasons there he made 76 appearances and scored seven goals [3] [2]. The assist totals differ: beIN Sports counts 15, and AC Milan's feature counts 16 [3] [2]. At Strasbourg he led the team in chances created (66) [3]. AC Milan's feature says he helped the side come close to reaching the Conference League final, and calls him a dedicated player with a strong work ethic [2].

Belgium after Portugal

He played two Under-15 matches for Belgium before choosing Portugal [6]. He then came up through Portugal's youth teams and played at the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship [1]. In May 2025 the governing body approved his change of association from Portugal to Belgium [6].

By September 2025 he was making his first competitive senior appearances, in qualifiers and friendlies for the 2026 World Cup [2]. His only World Cup appearance came as a substitute in Belgium's round-of-32 win over Senegal [3]. At the tournament he shared a dressing room with Alexis Saelemaekers and Koni De Winter, who are now his Milan teammates [2].

In his own words

In an interview published by Goal on 30 October 2026, which was first given to DAZN, Moreira explained his name: his mother's "favourite name, also because of Diego Maradona" [4]. He calls Cristiano Ronaldo his idol [4]. Asked about the Inter derby, he said it is "one of the most important matches in Europe" [4].

He wears 22 because "I like 22", and he called it an honour to follow Kakà, who left his mark on the club with that number [4]. Asked whether he would breakdance after scoring against Inter, he said no: "I don't want to get injured" [4].