Chelsea are reportedly preparing a serious push to land Mike Maignan from AC Milan in 2025 — and they face strong competition from Bayern Munich.
Milan’s French international keeper has his contract set to expire in June 2026, making him a strategic target for clubs willing to strike early.
The Blues’ interest stems from their desire to solidify the goalkeeping position with a proven, world-class figure. Maignan brings experience, leadership, and distribution skills — qualities that align with Chelsea’s ambition to compete at the highest level.
The Competitive Landscape: Chelsea vs Bayern
While Chelsea are keen, Bayern Munich are also casting their eye over Maignan as they look to plan for life beyond Manuel Neuer. Football Talk reports both clubs “positioning themselves” for the shot-stopper.
Bayern sees Maignan as the ideal successor to Neuer, valuing his ability to organise a defence and contribute to build-up play.
Chelsea, meanwhile, views him as an upgrade over their current options and a statement signing to reinforce their ambition.
Chelsea could move early via a pre-contract or take advantage of Milan’s contractual situation. Maignan’s contract expiring in 2026 makes him a tempting prospect for a bargain move.
Maignan’s Situation at AC Milan
Maignan has been the first-choice keeper at AC Milan since his move from Lille and has established himself as a key figure both on and off the pitch.
His contract situation, however, is turning into a possible weak point for Milan. With just one year left, his willingness (or not) to extend is under question, and Milan may prefer to cash in rather than lose him for free. Chelsea is aware of that leverage.
For Milan, retaining him is still a priority — but if they fail to meet his demands or his contract drags on without renewal, the writing may be on the wall.
The Role Maignan Would Play if Chelsea Lands Him
If Chelsea do secure Maignan, his role would almost certainly be as their number-one goalkeeper — with the expectation of him bringing top-level stability, commanding presence, and modern goal-keeping traits into their backline.
His ability to play out from the back, organise the defence, and make crucial saves makes him a fit for a team looking to raise its defensive standards.
For Bayern, the role would be succession planning: stepping into the long-term goalkeeper role at one of Europe’s elite clubs. Either way, Maignan’s arrival would signal a major shift in their goal-keeping department and could prompt departures or role changes for current keepers.