Alexis Saelemaekers

Alexis Jesse M. Saelemaekers (, ; born 27 June 1999) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a winger or wing-back for club AC Milan and the Belgium national team.

Club career Anderlecht

In October 2017, Saelemaekers signed a contract at Anderlecht until 2019. On 16 February 2018, he made his official debut against Sint-Truiden. He came on as a substitute in the 77th minute. On 8 June 2018, Saelemaekers renewed his contract until 2022.

AC Milan On 31 January 2020, AC Milan signed Saelemaekers on loan, with an option to buy. Milan reportedly agreed a €3.5 million fee plus €1 million in bonuses in case of a permanent signing. The same year on 2 February, he made his league debut as a substitute to Davide Calabria in a 1–1 draw against Verona on 2 February 2020.

On 1 July 2020, Saelemaekers signed a contract with Milan which would keep him at the club until 30 June 2024. On 18 July, he scored his first goal for the club in a 5–1 home win over Bologna in Serie A.

In October 2020, Saelemaekers scored his first goal of the season against Rio Ave in qualification match for Europa league. His next goal came on 26 October against Roma in 3–3 draw, his third and last goal of the season was on 20 December against Sassuolo as Milan pulled an away 2–1 victory. In total, he scored three goals and five assists of the season.

On 15 October 2021, Saelemaekers extended his contract until 30 June 2026 with a raise in salary. On 4 December, he scored his first goal of this season against Salernitana, a powerful left footed shot in eventual 2–0 win. His next goal came in a Coppa Italia match against Genoa on 13 January 2022, a goal in extra time as Milan won 3–1.

Loan to Bologna On 30 August 2023, Saelemaekers joined Bologna on loan with an option to buy. At Bologna, Saelemaekers quickly established himself as an important player, fitting perfectly into the manager Thiago Motta's so-called 2–7–2 system. Due to the presence of Riccardo Orsolini on the right side as an "inverted" left-footed right winger, right-footed Saelemaekers began to play on the left in the similar role, a position he sometimes played in at Milan in absence of regular starter Rafael Leão. Saelemaekers was about to join Bologna on a full transfer from Milan before Vincenzo Italiano took over the departing Thiago Motta as a manager at the end of the season and declined to spend €10 million on the player, focusing on other transfer targets.

While initially on the summer transfer market due to oversaturation of attacking players on both wings, Saelemaekers returned to AC Milan's training camp in July, played in all the pre-season friendlies, and was even a surprise starter for the opening 2024–25 Serie A game versus Torino, playing as a left back in place of Theo Hernandez, who later came on in the second half for Davide Calabria, with Saelemaekers moving onto the right side of a back-four.

Loan to Roma On 30 August 2024, he joined fellow Serie A club Roma, on loan for the 2024–25 season. He scored a career high 7 goals in all competitions before returning to Milan at the end of the season.

International career Saelemaekers debuted with the Belgium national team in a 1–1 friendly draw with Ivory Coast on 8 October 2020. On 5 September 2021, he scored his first international goal in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification against the Czech Republic in Brussels, which ended in a 3–0 win.

On 15 May 2026, he was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The following month, on 26 June, he netted a goal in a 5–1 victory over New Zealand in the team's final group match, which saw them progress to the knock-out stages of the tournament.

Career statistics Club

International

Scores and results list Belgium's goal tally first. Score column indicates score after each Saelemaekers goal.

Individual Serie A Goal of the Month: April 2023