Manchester City are closing in on the appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new manager after reaching a verbal agreement with Chelsea over a compensation package worth approximately €20 million (£17 million), according to reports from Sky Sport Italia.
The Italian coach is expected to travel to Manchester within the next 24 hours to sign a three-year contract at the Etihad Stadium, bringing an end to weeks of negotiations between the Premier League rivals. Maresca will replace Pep Guardiola, who announced on May 22 that he would step down after a trophy-laden decade in charge at City.
The compensation fee, if confirmed, would make Maresca the third-most expensive coaching appointment in football history. Only Graham Potter’s move from Brighton to Chelsea for £21.58 million (€25 million) in 2022 and Julian Nagelsmann’s switch from RB Leipzig to Bayern Munich for the same figure in 2021 rank higher. Maresca’s package would also surpass Jose Mourinho’s move from Inter Milan to Real Madrid in 2010, which cost the Spanish giants £13.8 million (€16 million).
The protracted negotiations had threatened to descend into a legal battle, with Chelsea demanding compensation and reportedly threatening a Premier League complaint over an alleged “illegal approach”. Maresca still had three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract when he left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent on New Year’s Day. However, the matter appears to have been settled amicably and outside of court.
For Maresca, the move marks a return to familiar surroundings. The 46-year-old previously worked as Guardiola’s assistant during City’s historic treble-winning campaign in 2023. He also led City’s Elite Development Squad to the Premier League 2 title before rejoining Guardiola’s backroom staff. His familiarity with City’s football philosophy and structure is believed to have made him the leading candidate to replace Guardiola.
Maresca’s sole full season in charge of Chelsea proved successful despite his early departure. He guided the Blues to UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup titles and secured Champions League qualification. Prior to his move to Stamford Bridge, he had led Leicester City to promotion from the Championship.
Guardiola left Manchester City at the end of the 2025/26 season after transforming the club into one of Europe’s dominant forces, winning 17 major honours during his decade at the helm. His final campaign saw City finish behind Arsenal in the Premier League, marking the first time in his managerial career that he failed to win a league title in consecutive seasons.
With Maresca now set to assume control in time for pre-season, City can begin integrating their summer transfer targets, with Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson understood to be a priority. The Community Shield against Arsenal and the Premier League opener against Bournemouth await as City prepare to embark on a new era under one of Guardiola’s closest protégés.
Neither Manchester City nor Chelsea have officially commented on the reports.
