What’s next for Maignan after Chelsea summer offer rejected

Mike Maignan’s future with Milan remains uncertain and Chelsea are still keen to sign the France international, according to various sources.

Safe to say Maignan has been among the best players in Serie A this season, helping the Rossoneri climb to the top of the table, level on 28 points with defending champions Napoli.

Maignan has already made several crucial saves, including penalty kick stops on Paulo Dybala and Hakan Calhanoglu, in Milan’s 1-0 victories over Roma and Inter, respectively.

It is no secret that Maignan’s future at the club is uncertain as his current deal expires in June 2026.

Milan director Igli Tare recently discussed the goalkeeper’s transfer situation, revealing a pact with the 30-year-old: “Mike is doing well, which we had assumed he would be. He’s been having a great season, we made some pacts at the start of the campaign and are not putting pressure on each other, as agreed. We are concentrated on the match today, then we’ll see how things develop.”

Maignan has been one of Milan’s difference makers this season and one of the reasons why the Rossoneri are seen a possible surprise title winner by tipsters and websites with no deposit bonus.

Chelsea made an offer to sign Maignan last summer, but Milan rejected the proposal despite knowing that negotiations to extend the goalkeeper’s stay would prove to be tricky.

Milan expert Carlo Pellegatti recently explained why renewal talks will be tough for the club, blaming the management for having the wrong attitude last year. “When he was struggling, rather than supporting him, they wanted to take one million off his salary. The previous agreement was €5m until 2028-29. We have one of the best goalkeepers in the world, according to Allegri, one of the top three in the world. Seeing him leave on a free transfer, even not extending his contract, is unbearable,” said the Italian journalist.

Chelsea remain strongly interested in Maignan and according to Sky Sport France (via BBC) the Blues have recently resumed talks with the goalkeeper’s entourage.

With Maignan’s contract expiring in June 2026, any club can start contract negotiations in January ahead of a free summer transfer.

Italian sources even linked Milan’s main rivals, Inter and Juventus, with signing Maignan on a free transfer in June, but Chelsea are surely an appealing destination for the experienced keeper, who had already agreed to move to Stamford Bridge last summer.

Maignan, 30, joined Milan in a €16m deal from Lille in 2021 and has kept 67 clean sheets in 177 games across all competitions with the Rossoneri.

In the current Serie A campaign, he’s only conceded nine goals in 12 appearances, keeping six clean sheets.