Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

In line with the agreed strategy when Enzo Maresca moved from Leicester City in 2024 - for which the club paid £10m - the Italian focused on coaching while those above him oversaw much of the backroom staff, medical department and transfers.

Maresca knew what he was signing up for in terms of the transfer policy - signing the world's best young players from 'lesser' leagues to create the youngest team in the Premier League - and his issues were not with the quality of players or the strategy, but about the perception of his work with a young group. Maresca also did not expect decisions on team selection to be influenced.

Last season, he and his agent had informed the club on two occasions of interest from Manchester City. Chelsea noted it came at a time when City boss Pep Guardiola had said Maresca was the best manager in the league.

Maresca had also notified the club of interest from Juventus, as well as his willingness to stay despite interest from two of Europe's biggest clubs.

He indicated speculation would end if he was handed a new contract. He was only 18 months into his initial deal and contracted until 2029.

Difficulties remained in his working relationship with the Chelsea ownership.

The Italian was encouraged to rotate his squad, but often felt that when he did so in the Premier League, they dropped points. He openly urged reporters to question the club's hierarchy but there was frustration each time Maresca sought to make his complaints public rather than discussing internally first.

He later admitted his comments after the Everton match were premeditated - rejecting the club's claim they were an emotional outburst after a tense match.

Shortly before leaving Chelsea, these were the cryptic comments Enzo Maresca made about the club following a win against Everton.

Maresca said it was "the worst 48 hours" since he arrived and suggested that he and his team had lacked support.

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Both Manchester City and Chelsea have acknowledged the disruption caused by Enzo Maresca's mid-season departure from Stamford Bridge.

The Blues were fifth in the table when the Italian departed but Liam Rosenior's appointment as his replacement turned out to be a disastrous move, with Chelsea ending the campaign in 10th and without European football next season.

That has put financial strain on the club and the compensation figure paid by City to Chelsea has become the headline for Maresca being appointed as boss.

It has been pointed out that the Blues themselves paid Brighton in excess of £21m in compensation to bring in Graham Potter and his staff in September 2022, but the Englishman was sacked after less than seven months in charge.

Sources have said the focus shouldn't be put on City paying compensation to Chelsea, but rather the acquisition of a top-class manager.

The end of the accounting period is fast approaching this week, so Chelsea's financial situation could be laid bare in the next few days.

Academy defender Trevoh Chalobah has been linked with a move to Serie A side Como and his sale would help towards the profit and sustainability (PSR) costings.

Chelsea

3 June 2024: Chelsea appoint Maresca on five-year contract after the Italian leads Leicester to the Championship title

15 December 2024: Maresca leads Chelsea to seventh consecutive win in all competitions as they move up to second place in the Premier League, but the Italian says they are "not ready" to win the title and have to be "realistic"

25 May 2025: Chelsea finish fourth in the Premier League and secure a place in the Champions League after a two-year absence

28 May 2025: Chelsea, as was widely expected before the season, win the Europa Conference League, beating Real Betis 4-1 in the final

Image source, Getty Images

13 July 2025: Chelsea win the Club World Cup for the second time, beating Champions League winners Paris St-Germain 3-0 in the final

15 August 2025: Maresca says he wants Chelsea to sign a centre-back with Levi Colwill injured, but the club prefer an "internal solution"

13 December 2025: Maresca says he has had his "worst 48 hours" at the club after a 2-0 win over Everton

30 December 2025: Maresca does not do post-match media after 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, with the club saying he is ill

1 January 2026: Maresca and Chelsea part ways.

If you are just joining us, here are the headlines from today's announcement at Etihad Stadium:

• Former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has been appointed Manchester City manager on a three-year contract
• Maresca has apologised for leaving Chelsea mid-season and will pay undisclosed compensation, personally
• One source says Man City will have to pay Chelsea £17m but neither club have confirmed the final settlement figure

Image source, Getty Images

Enzo Maresca joined Leicester City for his second senior managerial role in June 2023.

It came following an unsuccessful 180-day spell as Parma manager in 2021, overseeing just four wins from 14 games after they were relegated from Serie A.

Maresca led the Foxes to the Championship title, finishing the 2023-24 campaign on 97 points.

He won 31 games that season and played an attacking style of football.

The Italian, 46, was taken by Chelsea the following summer and went on to win 28 of his 57 games in charge, securing a top-four finish in the Premier League and the Conference League.

He went on to win the Club World Cup that summer, but subsequent poor form the following season - and friction behind the scenes - led to his departure in January.

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Enzo Maresca was seemingly the only name in the frame once Pep Guardiola announced his decision to leave Manchester City.

The club's chief executive Ferran Soriano said: “Enzo was the stand-out candidate in our considerations. We know his personality and his vision for the way football should be played. He is a man with integrity, charisma and passion.

“In addition to his successes at Chelsea and Leicester, his City track record speaks for itself. He managed our elite development team with distinction and was a key contributor to the historic Treble season.

“We will ensure that he receives everything he needs to be successful here and we are all very much looking forward to seeing his positive impact on the next phase of the club’s progress.”

What do you think?:

• Is Enzo Maresca a good appointment?
• Is the Italian the right manager to follow Pep Guardiola at Manchester City?
• Will he continue their success?
• Can City challenge for domestic and/or European honours under Maresca?
• Or will he struggle to follow in the footsteps of Guardiola?

Get in touch to tell us what you think using the 'Get Involved' button.

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Chelsea

Chelsea say that Maresca will pay them compensation now he has been confirmed as Manchester City boss. They released a statement shortly after the announcement:

"No club wants to change its head coach midway through a season. However, in light of his decision not to continue fulfilling his responsibilities through to the end of the season, the club was left with no choice but to protect our players, our supporters, and the Badge and accept his resignation.

"In the circumstances and given the mutual respect between clubs, a confidential settlement has been reached with Manchester City, which includes the payment of compensation. A confidential settlement has also been reached with the former head coach under which he will pay compensation.

"Looking forward to next season, in Xabi Alonso, we have a manager who has an exceptional football mind and is a professional of the highest integrity. He has all the attributes to deliver the success the club’s supporters deserve and expect."

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Manchester City have finally landed their man.

Over a month on since Pep Guardiola announced he would be leaving as manager, Enzo Maresca has been appointed as the replacement on a three-year deal.

Having identified their number one target, the hierarchy at City have been relaxed about the situation at a point when the season has come to a close and players and staff are away enjoying their holidays.

Senior City sources say they have no ill feeling towards Chelsea, they are a club they get on with, and that the now-resolved contractual dispute was between the Blues and Maresca.

Insiders have spoken glowingly about the 46-year-old, a man they know well having worked in the academy then as assistant to Guardiola, and he will now be expected to continue the philosophy of the legendary Spaniard.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea

Chelsea have released a statement on Manchester City's appointment of their former head coach Enzo Maresca. The club say "it is important to explain to our supporters what happened and why" Maresca left in January 2026.

"Chelsea FC appreciates the 2025/26 season was a hugely disappointing one for the Club and its supporters. A major contributing factor was the disruption caused as a result of changes that the Club was forced to make to the Head Coach position over the Christmas period.

"Due to recent developments, we consider that it is important to explain to our supporters what happened and why our former Head Coach left the Club on 1 January 2026.

"In Autumn last year, the Club was informed by our former Head Coach that there might be an opportunity for him to succeed Pep Guardiola at the end of the season. It became clear to us that it was his strong desire to succeed Guardiola and that he was fully committed to pursuing the opportunity, despite the fact he was under a long-term contract which he had no right to terminate.

"In December 2025, our Head Coach unexpectedly and abruptly resigned from his position. Obviously, we felt let down as we believed that his head and heart were focused on another club and another opportunity, despite having just arrived at Chelsea the year before."

Statement from Enzo Maresca:

"At the end of December 2025, I made the difficult decision to leave Chelsea

"The decision was only mine. My resignation from Chelsea opened a path for me to join Manchester City, which is a club I knew very well. I am ecstatic that I have now joined Manchester City.

"I recognise that my departure from Chelsea in the middle of the season caused disruption for the club and I apologise for that. It was neither my intention nor my wish.

"I was treated well by everyone at Chelsea and together we achieved great success and memories that I will always treasure.

"I am grateful to the club, the owners and the fans for giving me the opportunity."

Image source, Getty Images

Enzo Maresca has also released his own personal statement, addressing his time at Chelsea...

Manchester City

Manchester City also released a statement from Enzo Maresca, who described the appointment as a "dream situation":

"Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me.

"City is an incredibly well-run football club. Everything they do is innovative, planned and purposeful. For a manager, that is a dream situation. It provides the consistency I need to do my job effectively.

"This will be my third spell here. I know this club, I know the demands and I know the expectations.

"The quality of the people who work here is what makes it so special, and I want to thank them for showing faith in my ability.

"I cannot wait to start coaching the players. I want us to win, play good football and enjoy the pressure of representing Manchester City."

Manchester City

Manchester City's statement highlighted the role Enzo Maresca played in helping the club to win the Treble - of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup - in 2023.

He was Pep Guardiola's assistant during that season in what was the Italian's second spell at the Etihad:

"Maresca returns to City for a third time after joining the club in 2020, where he led our Elite Development Squad to the Premier League 2 title in his first season.

"His side delivered a dominant campaign, finishing 14 points clear at the top of the table - recording 17 wins, five draws and just two defeats.

"After time in Italy with Parma, he re-joined the club in 2022 as one of Pep Guardiola’s assistant managers, playing an integral role in the backroom staff that helped the team deliver the most successful season in City’s 132-year history by securing a historic Treble.

"Maresca was appointed head coach at Leicester City that summer, leading the Foxes to the EFL Championship title and an immediate return to the Premier League in his sole season in the East Midlands, before moving on to his most recent managerial role at Chelsea.

"He led Chelsea to Uefa Conference League success and secured Uefa Champions League qualification in his first campaign at Stamford Bridge, before guiding them to Fifa Club World Cup glory last summer in the United States."

Manchester City's distinction is clear - that Enzo Maresca has been appointed as a manager, not a head coach.