AC Milan make contract pledge to pregnant players

AC Milan involved their players in the decisions over their new policy

AC Milan say they have become the first club in Europe to guarantee contract renewals for players who become pregnant in the final year of their deals.

Players at the Italian club will also receive help with childcare and expenses for their children and a companion.

The move comes amid a push for improved rights for players across the game, with Fifa launching new standards to protect pregnant female footballers in May.

The Italian top flight became professional in 2022-23 and will expand from 10 teams to 13 in the 2025-26 campaign.

AC Milan's head of women's football, Elisabet Spina, said: "The club has always shown great attention to the wellbeing of its female players and staff members, both professionally and personally.

"We are now about to start a new season in which we will work to achieve important goals, both on and off the field. We are excited to approach it by introducing our innovative policy."

The club said players would be given one-year contract extensions "on the same economic terms" as their existing deals.

Earlier this year, several Women's Super League players and coaches told BBC Sport about the challenges they faced in combining motherhood and a career in football.

Germany midfielder Melanie Leupolz, who was then playing for Chelsea, said: "You hear of many bad stories in Europe of players who didn't get support at all."

In May, BBC Sport also revealed clubs were set to receive guidelines from FifPro before the new season to support players returning after childbirth.

The guidelines are set to cover a range of topics including fitness, nutrition and childcare.