AC Milan will be without Algeria midfielder Ismael Bennacer for four months due to a calf injury, the Serie A club said on Monday.

Bennacer underwent surgery on his right calf in Finland and is not expected to return to action before the end of the year.

The 26-year-old suffered the injury during a training session while on international duty this month, after playing in Algeria's 2-0 win over Equatorial Guinea at the start of 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

Bennacer has made 171 appearances for Milan since joining from Empoli in 2019, shortly after helping Algeria win that year's AFCON in Egypt.

He also won the Serie A title with Milan in 2022.