Como are set to announce their eleventh summer signing in the very near future. According to all leading Italian media, Álvaro Morata will become the new attacking leader of Cesc Fàbregas’ team.
Como’s remarkable summer transfer campaign has taken yet another headline-grabbing turn with the imminent arrival of Álvaro Morata, a move that continues to underline the club’s rapid rise in ambition and financial muscle.
For weeks, speculation had been swirling that the ambitious Lombardy side, who only returned to Serie A in recent years, were pushing hard to lure the Spanish international to the shores of Lake Como. Now, that pursuit is on the verge of completion, marking one of the most high-profile signings in the club’s modern history.
Morata, now 32, found himself in a career crossroads over the past season. After being loaned by AC Milan to Turkish giants Galatasaray, his playing time and influence gradually diminished, leading to an increasingly untenable situation. Galatasaray initially resisted any mid-loan exit, determined to hold on to a player of his calibre, but the dynamics shifted in recent weeks. With Milan open to negotiations and Morata eager for a fresh start, an agreement was finally struck that paves the way for him to leave Turkey well before the end of his original arrangement.
The financial details reveal the complexity of the deal. As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Galatasaray will receive €4 million from AC Milan as compensation for the early termination of the loan. Milan, in turn, have agreed to a €12 million permanent transfer to Como, locking Morata into a contract running until mid-2028. For Como, this represents not only an investment in proven quality but also a statement to the rest of Serie A: they are no longer a club simply aiming to survive they are building a squad capable of competing at a much higher level.
A key subplot in this transfer is Morata’s personal connection to Como’s coach, Cesc Fàbregas. The two share a longstanding friendship from their time together in the Spanish national team and from overlapping periods in the upper echelons of European football. Sources close to the negotiations suggest that Fàbregas’s influence was instrumental in convincing Morata to choose Como over other potential suitors, some of whom reportedly offered higher wages. The opportunity to work with a trusted friend, combined with the allure of being part of an ambitious project, proved decisive.
Morata’s arrival adds further firepower to a squad that has undergone a stunning transformation over the past two months. This summer alone, Como have already spent €104 million before the Morata deal, making signings that would not look out of place at one of Italy’s established giants. Among the most notable arrivals are Jesús Rodríguez (€22 million), Nicolas Kühn (€19 million), Martin Baturina (€18 million), Jayden Addai (€14 million), Máximo Perrone (€13 million), Alex Valle (€6 million), Ignace van der Brempt (€5 million), Jacobo Ramón (€2.5 million), Luca Mazzitelli (€2 million), and Felipe Jack (€2 million). With Morata’s fee, their total summer spend now reaches €116 million an astonishing figure for a club of Como’s stature just a few years ago.
This spending spree has only been surpassed by Juventus in Serie A this summer, with the Turin giants investing €118.5 million. That Como have reached this level of expenditure is a testament to the club’s backing and its ambitious long-term vision. Backed by deep-pocketed owners and with Fàbregas at the helm, they are not shying away from competing with the league’s traditional powerhouses in the transfer market.
From a sporting perspective, Morata’s signing provides Como with a forward of proven pedigree. Across spells with Real Madrid, Juventus, Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, and the Spanish national team, he has built a reputation as a smart, mobile striker capable of both scoring and creating goals. His experience in Serie A, where he has already enjoyed multiple successful campaigns with Juventus, should allow him to adapt quickly. For a team that finished tenth last season, his leadership and ability to deliver in big matches could be transformative.
There is also a broader symbolic significance to this transfer. Como’s willingness to invest in a player of Morata’s calibre signals to fans, rivals, and potential future signings that the club is serious about accelerating its rise. While some may question whether such heavy spending is sustainable, the immediate effect is clear: Como will enter the new Serie A season with one of the most intriguing squads outside the established elite.
As preparations for the new campaign intensify, anticipation around Morata’s debut will be high. Supporters will be eager to see how he links up with the club’s other marquee signings, and whether his arrival can turn potential into tangible success on the pitch. If Fàbregas can blend these big-money recruits into a cohesive and disciplined unit, Como could become one of the surprise packages of the 2024–25 Serie A season.
