AC Milan Stand Their Ground: Maignan Not for Sale
When Chelsea came knocking with a €15 million offer for Mike Maignan, AC Milan didn’t even blink. Club CEO Giorgio Furlani swiftly dismissed the bid as “not interesting,” reminding everyone that Milan isn’t in the mood to let one of their most important players go for a bargain price. Maignan might not be a household name for every casual fan, but for Milan, he’s just about untouchable right now.
Maignan, 29, is locked in at Milan until June 2026, and the club’s stance is clear: there’s no appetite to sell, especially not at the flavorless numbers Chelsea proposed. Milan insiders say their actual valuation sits somewhere between £20 million and £25 million—so Chelsea’s opening shot fell way short of the target.
The rejection is more than just haggling. It’s a statement. Giorgio Furlani has put the rest of Europe on notice: Milan won’t entertain cut-price approaches for their stars, especially when their project depends on them. The French international, who joined Milan from Lille in 2021, has been vital both in Serie A and on the European stage, drawing praise for his shot-stopping, leadership, and consistency.
Chelsea Switches Gears After Rebuff
After a rocky season that saw Roberto Sánchez struggle between the posts, it wasn’t a surprise that Chelsea started looking for a fresh face in goal. But it turns out they’re not desperate—at least not desperate enough to splash out on Milan’s terms for Maignan. Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol summed up the situation with a blunt update for fans: “The Maignan chapter is closed” at Stamford Bridge, at least for this transfer window.
Chelsea’s recruitment focus has now shifted to other needs. The club has bigger gaps to fill: a left winger, a center-back, and maybe a forward who can play across the front line. Reportedly, they still keep half an eye on Maignan for a possible move when he runs out of contract in 2026, but that’s a long way off and lots can change in the wild world of football transfers by then.
Instead, the Blues are now placing bets on youth. Filip Jorgensen and Mike Penders are the young goalkeepers on their radar, and there’s genuine belief inside the club that these two could be developed into first-team regulars. Chelsea, having learned some tough lessons with pricey experiments in previous windows, seem keen to avoid hasty spending.
Milan, meanwhile, can breathe easy. Keeping Maignan isn’t just about fending off suitors like Chelsea—it’s about setting a standard for how they handle their business. For any club eyeing the French keeper, the message couldn’t be clearer: you’ll have to dig much deeper into your pockets—or look elsewhere.
