Enzo Maresca has signed a long-term contract to become Chelsea’s new head coach, marking a significant appointment for the club. The Italian has agreed to a five-year deal, which includes a club option to extend for an additional 12 months.
Maresca, who led Leicester City to the Championship title and secured their promotion to the Premier League, will bring six of his staff to Stamford Bridge. His team includes Willy Caballero, Danny Walker, Michele De Bernardin, Marcos Alvarez, Javier Molina Caballero, and Roberto Vitiello. They will work alongside Chelsea’s existing specialists like Ben Roberts, Hilario, and Bernardo Cueva.
The agreement between Chelsea and Leicester was finalized with a compensation package of around £10 million. Chelsea has expressed appreciation for Leicester’s professionalism throughout the process, recognizing the potential disruption caused to their preparations for the Premier League.
An official announcement is anticipated on Monday, with Maresca scheduled to be presented to the media later in the week.
Maresca’s coaching journey includes roles at Manchester City, Sevilla, West Ham United, and a brief stint as head coach at Parma. His playing career spanned clubs such as West Bromwich Albion, Juventus, Fiorentina, and Sevilla before he retired in 2017.
Since the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-led takeover of Chelsea in 2022, Maresca is the sixth managerial appointment. He follows Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, interim managers Bruno Saltor and Frank Lampard, and Mauricio Pochettino, who was appointed before the 2023-24 season.