Maldini confirms that Giroud will complete his £1m switch to AC Milan TOMORROW

Paolo Maldini has confirmed that Olivier Giroud will complete his move to AC Milan on Thursday after the Italians triggered the Chelsea star's £1m release clause.

The Serie A side have monitored the French veteran for some time, and held hopes of signing Giroud as a free agent with his contract set to expire this summer.

However, the Blues activated their option to extend the striker's deal by one more season, and the Italians have since agreed to meet his £1m release clause and have spent the past week ironing out the final details of his pay structure.

And AC Milan legend Maldini, who now works as the club's technical director, has confirmed that Giroud will arrive in Milan on Thursday to undergo his medical before completing the move.

'Yes, [Giroud] should arrive tomorrow,' Maldini told DAZN via Goal. 'Olivier is a champion and a fresh winner of the Champions League.'

While Giroud fell down the pecking order under Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, he contributed vital goals for the West London side, including a stunning strike against Atletico Madrid.

Maldini added that the 34-year-old's experience will be of huge value to Milan's young squad this coming season.

'He is a very reliable player, what we were looking for since we need experienced players like him,' he said. 'We are the youngest team in Serie A.'

Milan boss Stefano Pioli is looking to add another face to his attack after Giroud's arrival, with Maldini revealing that the Italian giants are on the hunt for a younger striker to learn from the likes of Giroud and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

'A young striker could also arrive,' he added. 'The idea is to lay the foundations for the team and then perhaps wait for the final phase of the transfer market.'