City move swiftly to replace Guardiola, agree £17m Maresca deal with Chelsea

Manchester City have moved a major step closer to ushering in a new era at the Etihad Stadium after reaching a formal agreement with Chelsea to appoint Italian tactician Enzo Maresca as the club’s next manager following the departure of Pep Guardiola.

The Premier League champions are set to pay an estimated £17 million compensation package to Chelsea to secure Maresca’s services, bringing back a coach who played a pivotal role in the club’s recent golden era. The agreement marks a significant breakthrough after weeks of negotiations and legal complexities surrounding the Italian’s contractual ties to the London club.

Following the confirmation of Guardiola’s exit, City’s hierarchy wasted little time identifying a successor. Maresca quickly emerged as the preferred candidate due to his deep understanding of the club’s philosophy and operations, having previously served as Guardiola’s assistant during Manchester City’s historic treble-winning campaign in the 2022-23 season.

Although Maresca left Chelsea at the beginning of the year, he remained contractually bound to the Stamford Bridge side, creating obstacles that required extensive discussions between both clubs. Those negotiations have now reportedly concluded successfully, with City agreeing to a substantial buyout package to release the 46-year-old from his remaining contractual obligations.

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According to reports from Sky Sports, the compensation deal is worth approximately £17 million, effectively clearing the final hurdle to Maresca’s return to Manchester. The agreement paves the way for the Italian coach to officially take charge of the reigning English champions and begin preparations for the next chapter in the club’s history.

For Chelsea, the compensation package provides a significant financial return as the club continues its managerial restructuring following a turbulent period on and off the pitch.

Maresca’s rise through the coaching ranks has been swift and impressive. After earning widespread praise as Guardiola’s trusted assistant, he took his first major managerial role at Leicester City, where he successfully guided the Foxes back to the Premier League at the first attempt, restoring the club’s top-flight status.

His achievements at Leicester earned him a move to Chelsea in the summer of 2024, where he further enhanced his reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches. Despite eventually departing Stamford Bridge amid reported disagreements over the club’s sporting direction and management structure, Maresca enjoyed notable success during his tenure.

Under his leadership, Chelsea secured both the UEFA Conference League title and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, adding major silverware to the club’s trophy cabinet and reinforcing his credentials as a coach capable of delivering success at the highest level.

Manchester City officials believe Maresca’s familiarity with Guardiola’s methods, combined with his own growing managerial experience, makes him ideally positioned to continue the club’s dominance in English football while also leading the next phase of its evolution.

With the compensation agreement now reportedly in place, only the final administrative formalities remain before Maresca is officially unveiled as Manchester City’s new manager, ending weeks of speculation and opening a fresh chapter for one of Europe’s most successful clubs.