AC Milan confirmed this week that Simon Kjaer has signed a contract extension to stay until 2024, and it’s a fully deserved reward for the Danish stalwart.
As per the club’s official statement, a deal has been agreed to extend his current deal until June 2024, with the 32-year-old making 66 appearances for the Rossoneri since joining us in January 2020.
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The reasoning behind the decision to bring Kjaer in at that time was clear, Milan wanted to add experience and a veteran presence to the squad along with Zlatan Ibrahimovic to find a balance with the young group that Stefano Pioli had at his disposal.
It has proven to be a fundamentally important bit of business, as the defensive stalwart has established himself as a rock at the heart of the Milan backline, whether he is partnered by Alessio Romagnoli or Fikayo Tomori.
His leadership, commanding presence and personality both on and off the pitch have been vital additions to the squad, and he has deserved his place in the XI due to the level of his performances and the consistency with which he has showcased that.
Injuries were arguably the biggest concern when he signed, as having ticked over to the wrong side of 30, there was a fear that he could be prone to spells on the sidelines and that in turn would hurt both him and Milan.
However, albeit there have been setbacks along the way, he has stayed healthy for the most part, and with Milan’s schedule becoming more difficult this season after our return to the Champions League, Pioli and the coaching staff have also managed him well to keep him healthy.
There is little doubt that Kjaer deserved to be rewarded for his form since joining us with a longer contract, and given he is still performing at those high levels now, it’s a good sign that he will continue to be an important factor moving forward.
As touched upon above, with his experience and wealth of knowledge of the centre-back role, should he gradually step aside towards the back-end of his deal, the level of professionalism and the character that he has displayed would suggest he would be a more than willing mentor to any long-term replacement if it benefitted the club.
Time will tell when we reach that stage, but for now, Kjaer has firmly established himself as a fans’ favourite and a pivotal piece in Pioli’s plans as we go in search of silverware and long-awaited tangible success this season.
