The dream move of Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta to AC Milan collapsed at the eleventh hour in the January transfer window after medical examinations uncovered significant concerns about the French international’s right knee, with three different medical experts advising the Italian club against the signing.
The transfer, valued at approximately £26-30 million (€35 million), was on the verge of completion after the clubs reached an agreement.
Palace were fully transparent, sending detailed medical records to Milan in advance of the weekend, which disclosed that Mateta had been playing through pain for several months since November with an existing knee issue.
However, when Milan’s club doctor, Stefano Mazzoni, traveled to London to conduct further examinations, the club’s reservations solidified.
The evaluation revealed that Mateta’s condition, stemming from a ruptured meniscus suffered in 2019, likely required corrective surgery rather than continued management, potentially sidelining him for three to four months.
This prognosis led Milan to withdraw from the deal entirely. A subsequent report from Italy confirmed that the club’s decision came after three separate medical experts recommended against proceeding with the signing.
Serie A rivals Juventus, who also explored a late move for the striker, were similarly dissuaded by the medical findings.
The fallout leaves Mateta at a professional crossroads. Sky Sports News reports the 28-year-old is “devastated, disappointed and upset” after the collapsed transfer.
He now faces a critical decision on whether to undergo surgery, which would likely end his club season but could provide a long-term solution, or to continue managing the pain to preserve his chances of playing for France at the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer.
For Crystal Palace, the saga prompted immediate action. The club completed a £48 million club-record signing of striker Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolverhampton Wanderers as a replacement, indicating plans have moved forward without Mateta.
Despite the disappointment, it is understood there is no lasting animosity between Palace and Milan following the transfer’s collapse. With Mateta’s contract running until 2027, all parties are now expected to seek a resolution for his future in the summer transfer window.