Luka Modrić set for a new contract with Milan: continuing his career at the age of 41 and an important role in Rúben Amorim's project
Luka Modrić has decided to continue his playing career at AC Milan and is expected to sign a new one-year contract with the Italian club in the middle of the coming week. According to information published by Germanijak on 19 July 2026, the signing is most likely expected on Wednesday, 22 July, while the financial terms should remain at the level of the previous season: 3.5 million euros plus bonuses. At the time this information was published, Milan had not yet officially confirmed the conclusion of a new contract, so the signing date and the final structure of the remuneration should still be considered unofficial. Nevertheless, public statements by new coach Rúben Amorim have already made it clear that the club wants to retain the experienced midfielder and include him in its plans for the 2026/27 season. If the agreement is concluded according to the announced schedule, Modrić will remain in one of Europe's most demanding leagues even after his 41st birthday, which he will celebrate on 9 September.
The decision represents a continuation of the cooperation that began in July 2025, following the end of Modrić's thirteen-year era at Real Madrid. AC Milan officially announced at the time that the Croatian midfielder had signed a contract until 30 June 2026, with the possibility of an extension for another season. Germanijak now states that the previously agreed option was not activated within the prescribed deadline and that the first contract expired on the final day of June, which is why the two parties are expected to conclude a new one-year agreement. Such a development explains why Modrić was formally not among the players under valid contract at the start of preparations, even though messages from Milan indicated that the door was open for his return. The final decision was made after his holiday following the 2026 World Cup, where he once again captained the Croatian national team.
Amorim publicly stated that he wants Modrić in the squad
The most important signal concerning Milan's intentions came on 8 July, when Rúben Amorim was presented as the new head coach. At the official press conference, the Portuguese coach said that he wanted Modrić to stay, confirmed that he had already spoken with him and described him as an important reference point for the team. Amorim also announced that he expected his return after the holiday that followed the World Cup. That statement was more than the customary praise for an experienced player: the new coach publicly linked Modrić's stay to the way he wants to build Milan's play, particularly through control of possession, composure in organising attacks and decision-making under pressure.
During his presentation, Amorim emphasised that Milan want to play ambitious, attacking football and compete for trophies once again. In such a project, Modrić's role does not have to be measured solely by the number of minutes played. His value comes from his ability to accelerate or slow down the tempo of a match, identify open space before his opponents and offer a safe solution during the build-up phase. At the same time, it is realistic to expect his workload to be managed carefully, especially during weeks with several matches and journeys. Amorim did not promise that Modrić would play in every fixture, but he made it clear that he sees him as a player whose presence can ease the transition into the new system and help the younger members of the squad adopt the coaching staff's requirements more quickly.
The first season confirmed that experience still has competitive value
Modrić's arrival at Milan in 2025 was not intended merely as a symbolic move or the final destination of a great career. During his first season, he showed that he was still capable of deciding matches in Serie A. Official club announcements highlighted his assist in the victory against Lecce, his goal for a 1-0 win over Bologna at San Siro and the winning goal in the away victory against Pisa. Milan named him man of the match on several occasions, including fixtures against Lecce, Bologna, Cagliari and Pisa. These examples do not provide a complete picture of the entire season, but they show that his contribution was not limited to experience in the dressing room.
The data published by Lega Serie A ahead of Matchday 34 further emphasised his importance in ball distribution. At that point, Modrić had completed 979 successful forward passes, placing him among the leading players in the Italian league in that category. Such a statistic is particularly important for a team that wants to control space and progress through the centre of the pitch, because it distinguishes safe circulation of the ball from passes that genuinely move the opposing defence. Modrić's style of play has never been based solely on the final action, but on a series of decisions that enable the team to maintain its structure while simultaneously advancing towards the opposition's goal. This is precisely why Milan view his possible stay as a sporting gain, rather than merely a reputational one.
His first season in Italy, however, did not end with the club's objectives being fully achieved. According to AC Milan's official final standings, the Rossoneri finished the 2025/26 Serie A season in fifth place with 70 points, after 20 wins, 10 draws and eight defeats. They scored 53 goals and conceded 35, while fourth-placed Como finished only one point ahead of them. Such an outcome left the impression of a missed opportunity, particularly because Modrić had identified a return to the Champions League as the minimum objective upon his arrival. The change of coach and the beginning of a new cycle therefore bring additional pressure: Milan must transform individual quality into more consistent performances throughout the entire season.
A new contract would provide a foundation for continuity amid a broader reconstruction
The arrival of Rúben Amorim marked the beginning of a new era at San Siro. After the end of the season, the club changed its technical direction, and the new coach announced a team that wants to dominate matches, play high-quality football with the ball and return to the fight for the biggest objectives. During such a transitional period, retaining a player who understands the highest level of competition can reduce the risk of sudden fluctuations. Throughout his career, Modrić has worked in different tactical systems, played alongside numerous types of midfielders and adapted to coaches who demanded different tasks from him. That adaptability is important for Amorim, whose system will require precise positioning, rapid ball circulation and discipline after possession is lost.
A new one-year contract would also allow Milan to avoid relying too heavily on short-term improvisations in midfield. Modrić will not be a long-term solution in demographic terms, but he can serve as a bridge to the next phase of the team's development. His presence can help players who are only now assuming greater responsibility, especially in matches in which Milan must break down a deep defensive block or preserve a lead under pressure. At the same time, the club must pay attention to the balance between experience and energy, because Serie A demands intensity regardless of technical quality. The success of a possible continuation of the cooperation will therefore depend on a clearly defined role, the proper allocation of minutes and the quality of the players who will surround Modrić.
The financial part of the announced agreement is currently based on a media report. Germanijak states that the annual salary will be 3.5 million euros plus bonuses, identical to the terms from the previous season, but Milan have not officially published those figures. In European football, clubs often do not confirm players' net salaries, so such information generally relies on reports from the media and sources close to the negotiations. It is therefore more accurate to speak of reported rather than confirmed financial terms. Regardless of the final amount, the one-year duration of the contract suits both the club and the player because it leaves room for them to reassess his physical condition, sporting role and their shared ambitions after the season.
From Real Madrid to Milan: a career defined by longevity at the top
Modrić's stay at Milan takes on additional significance when viewed in the context of his overall career. According to official AC Milan data, before arriving in Italy he made 597 appearances for Real Madrid and won six Champions League titles, five Club World Cups, the Intercontinental Cup, five European Super Cups, four Spanish league titles, two Copa del Rey trophies and five Spanish Super Cups with the club. In 2018, he won the Ballon d'Or, ending the long-standing dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the most prestigious individual award. Before his period in Madrid, he established himself at Dinamo and then spent four years at Tottenham, where he made his mark in English football and attracted the interest of Europe's biggest clubs.
He arrived at Milan with a special emotional connection to the club. At his presentation in August 2025, he said that he had grown up following Italian football, that Milan had been his favourite Italian club and that Zvonimir Boban had been his idol. At the same time, he emphasised that he was not arriving out of nostalgia, but with competitive objectives. He spoke about the need to return the club to the highest level and the obligation of a team with such a history not to accept mediocrity. One year later, the decision to continue the cooperation can be interpreted as confirmation that he still sees room to make a sporting contribution, but also as a desire to build on his first season in Milan with a more successful result.
The distinctive feature of his case is not only his age, but the type of role he continues to perform. Midfielders who depend on explosiveness generally lose their influence earlier, whereas Modrić builds much of his advantage through anticipation, technique, body orientation and speed of thought. This does not remove the physical demands of professional football, but it allows him to compensate for part of the natural decline in athletic ability through experience and economical movement. Milan also have the technical and medical resources required for individual workload planning. If the new staff find the right balance between continuity and rest, Modrić can remain relevant even in a season during which he will be 41 for most of the time.
The World Cup has ended, while the decision about the national team remains a separate issue
The decision to continue his club career was made after the 2026 World Cup in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico. According to official FIFA data, Modrić made his 200th appearance for the Croatian national team in the victory against Panama on 23 June, becoming one of the few footballers in history to reach that milestone. Croatia subsequently progressed from the group, but their tournament ended with defeat by Portugal in the first knockout round. Following the elimination, FIFA reported his message that the team could leave the tournament with their heads held high, while the question of whether he would continue his international career remained open.
It is important to distinguish between the two decisions. A new contract with Milan would mean that Modrić is continuing to play professionally, but it would not automatically confirm that he will continue to represent the national team. Germanijak states that he has not yet announced his final decision about his international future. After more than two decades of international football and a record number of appearances, every subsequent cycle will require coordination between club commitments, travel and recovery. For Milan, the most important matter at this moment is for the player to join preparations after his holiday ready for the new season, while the decision regarding the national team will probably be announced separately and only after talks with the new technical leadership of the national side.
Official confirmation is the final step
According to the information currently available, the most important elements of the agreement have already been settled: Modrić wants to continue his career, Milan want to retain him and Amorim has assigned him a role in the new project. Nevertheless, until the club publishes an official statement, the signing cannot be considered complete. The customary final steps include the administrative processing of the contract, possible medical checks and the player's registration for the new season. The expected date, Wednesday, 22 July, comes from a media report and may change without affecting the underlying intentions of the two parties.
If the new contract is confirmed, Modrić's second season in the red-and-black shirt will not merely be a continuation of an exceptionally long career. It will also be a test of whether Milan can use the experience of one of the most successful midfielders of his generation during a period of change to stabilise the team and return to results that match the club's tradition. For Modrić, the challenge will be equally clear: to retain his competitive influence at the age of 41, accept a precisely managed role and help the new coach turn the idea of a higher-quality, more dominant Milan into results. Everything indicates that both the player and the club are ready for another season together, but the final word will come from AC Milan's official announcement.
Sources:
- Germanijak – report on Modrić's decision, the expected signing date and the reported financial terms of the new contract (link)
- AC Milan – official announcement of Modrić's first contract, biographical information and overview of trophies (link)
- AC Milan – presentation of Rúben Amorim and his statements about Modrić's role in the team (link)
- AC Milan – final Serie A standings for the 2025/26 season and Milan's points total (link)
- AC Milan – Modrić's statements at his presentation, objectives and relationship with the club (link)
- Lega Serie A – statistical context of Modrić's forward passes in the 2025/26 season (link)
- FIFA – information about his 200th appearance for the Croatian national team at the 2026 World Cup (link)
- FIFA – report on the end of Croatia's 2026 World Cup campaign following the match against Portugal (link)