Zlatan Ibrahimovic signs new deal at AC Milan and will play on past 41st birthday

Veteran Swedish attacker agrees contract extension despite fact he is currently recovering from knee surgery

AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli, right, congratulates Zlatan Ibrahimovic. AP

Who knew what was to come? Zlatan, probably. He made his debut for Malmo in Sweden in September 1999 as a 17-year-old. Amazingly they were relegated in 2000, seen a huge failure. Zlatan came to the rescue and they were promoted the following season. He played 47 games in total for Malmo, scoring 18 goals, before leaving for his next club Ajax in July 2001. Shutterstock

Two league titles and two cups collected by Zlatan during his three seasons with Ajax. He was their most expensive signing ever, naturally, at €8.7m (Dh 35m). A total of 110 games, with 48 goals and 16 assists marked his time in Amsterdam before the next stop. Action Images

Fabio Capello decided Zlatan was the man for him and in 2004 he joined the Italian at Juventus for €16m. Where he became known as Ibra. A great first season, winning the Scudetto, and then again the following year. However, Juve were relegated as punishment in the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal. After 92 games, and 26 goals, Ibra was on the move again. Reuters

Inter Milan, a defining period in the life of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Where he changed from top class to world class (in his own view, of course). Ibra carried Inter to three successive league titles, after his €24.8m move in August 2006, playing 117 games and scoring 66 times. Reuters

Next stop Barcelona, for a fee of €69.5m. After a tremendous start - scoring in the first five league games and deciding El Clasico, he fell out with manager Pep Guardiola. Despite four trophies, 46 games and 22 goals, Ibra only lasted one year at Barca before he was off on his travels again. Reuters

Back to Milan, this time in red and black, in August 2010, for €24m. Would he succeed in Italy again? Of course he would. A Scudetto in 2010/11 and 28 league goals the next season. A huge hit again in Serie A, 85 games and 56 goals, but that didn't stop his next move. Reuters

Off to Paris-Saint-Germain for a mere €23m in July 2012. It was a surprise move at the time but he lasted four years in the French capital after scoring an incredible 30 league goals in his first season. Goals were certainly to Zlatan's taste in France, where he helped himself to 156 in 180 games, winning 12 trophies, including Ligue 1 in all four seasons. Reuters

Zlatan on a free transfer. Some piece of business for Manchester United in July 2016, though his salary was certainly on the generous side. Back with Jose Mourinho after their spell together in Italy with Inter Milan, Zlatan, as usual, made his mark, scoring 28 goals in 46 appearances across the Premier League, Europa League and cup competitions. A handful of games followed in 2017-18 before he was on the move. Reuters

Club No 9 for Zlatan, and over to the USA on another free transfer in March 2018 with Los Angeles Galaxy. A total of 58 games and 53 goals over his two seasons was another fine achievement. In a tweet he wrote: 'I came, I saw, I conquered … You wanted Zlatan. I gave you Zlatan. You are welcome.' But it's still not enough for Zlatan, as the football world eagerly awaits the next chapter in a remarkable story. Reuters

Zlatan is still going strong, now back at AC Milan. Getty

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed a new deal at Italian champions AC Milan that will see him play on past his 41st birthday.

The Swedish attacker, who turns 41 in October, agreed a contract extension until at June 2023 despite that fact he currently recovering from knee surgery.

At the end of May, Ibrahimovic – fresh from winning the Serie A title – had a planned procedure on his left knee to repair damage and instability caused by a previous anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The 40-year-old is expected to be out for up to eight months, so is not likely to be fully fit until midway through the 2022-23 campaign.

“AC Milan is pleased to announce the renewal of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's contract until June 30, 2023,” the club said in a short statement on Monday. “The Swedish forward will continue to wear the number 11 shirt.”

Responding to the announcement on his Instagram page, Ibrahimovic wrote: “The never-ending Zlatan #ReadyToLeaveAMark”.

Ibrahimovic – who returned for his second spell at the Rossoneri in 2019 after two prolific campaigns in the United States with LA Galaxy – made 27 appearances in all competitions last season scoring eight goals as Milan won the scudetto for the first time in 11 years.

He has also played for Malmo, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United in a remarkable club career that has seen him score more than 500 goals.

Ibrahimovic is also Sweden's all-time top scorer with 62 goals in 121 games.