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Chelsea are growing increasingly confident of securing AC Milan star Mike Maignan on a free transfer next summer, with the French goalkeeper set to leave the San Siro at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Maignan has established himself as one of the finest shot-stoppers in Europe since joining AC Milan, playing a pivotal role in their domestic and European success. With his contract running down, Premier League giants are circling—Manchester United included—but Chelsea believe they are firmly in pole position.
According to TBR Football, the Blues already have an agreement in place with Maignan over personal terms, one they reached earlier this year. While they failed to strike a deal with Milan before the Club World Cup, his impending free-agent status changes the landscape completely.
Sanchez and Maignan: A Strong Goalkeeping Duo
Chelsea currently rely on Robert Sanchez, who impressed during the Club World Cup and has made a solid start to the 2025/26 campaign. However, questions remain over his distribution, an area where Maignan could provide a major upgrade.
Rather than replacing Sanchez outright, Chelsea see the potential for the two keepers to rotate, offering squad depth and ensuring freshness in what has become an increasingly congested fixture calendar.
A Big Decision on Contract Length
Maignan will turn 31 next summer, raising the question of how many years Chelsea are willing to commit to him. The club’s recent transfer policy has favoured younger players on long-term deals, but Maignan’s proven quality and leadership could make him a worthy exception.
With United still lurking, Chelsea’s confidence suggests Stamford Bridge may soon welcome one of Europe’s elite goalkeepers—potentially on a free transfer coup.
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