Manchester City formally appointed Enzo Maresca as their new manager on a three-year deal on Monday, ending a delay tied to a contractual dispute with Chelsea. Nathan Aké is not part of the move, but the appointment closes the latest chapter in a switch that had already affected both clubs and the coach himself.
Maresca, 46, was unveiled as Pep Guardiola’s successor and said he was “ecstatic” to be joining Manchester City. He also apologised to Chelsea for the disruption caused by his departure from Stamford Bridge in January, a move that opened the way for this return to City for a third spell.
Manchester City and Chelsea settle
Chelsea said it had received compensation from Manchester City and from Maresca himself after confidential settlements were reached with both sides. The club said the arrangement ended a dispute that had held up the announcement, and that the coach’s move was finally completed once the financial terms were settled.
Maresca joined Chelsea in 2024 on a five-year deal and spent 18 months in charge, winning the Conference League and Club World Cup before leaving on Jan. 1, 2026. Chelsea later said Liam Rosenior replaced him and that the club finished 10th in the Premier League before Rosenior was sacked in April.
Maresca on Stamford Bridge
The friction came from opposite readings of the same exit. Chelsea said it was told in Autumn last year that its head coach might have the chance to succeed Guardiola at the end of the season, then said it became clear that he was committed to pursuing the move despite being under a long-term contract which he had no right to terminate.
Maresca gave his own version in an Instagram post, saying he made the difficult decision to leave Chelsea at the end of December 2025. “The decision was only mine,” he said. He added, “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.”
City’s delayed appointment
The long wait for the announcement came down to the dispute, according to sources close to City, and the settlement now clears the way for Maresca to begin a job he was already linked with after his previous spells with the club’s Elite Development Squad and as Guardiola’s first-team assistant between 2022 and 2023.
The headline move is done. What remains behind it is the price of the breakup: Chelsea said the settlements were confidential, so the exact compensation figures were not disclosed.
