Manchester City reached a verbal agreement with Chelsea on Monday to appoint Enzo Maresca as the successor to Pep Guardiola. City will pay a substantial £17.2 million (€20 million) compensation package to finalize the deal, clearing the final contractual hurdle for the Italian coach to take over at the Etihad Stadium.
Maresca is expected to travel to Manchester within the next 24 hours to sign a three-year contract. The 46-year-old was designated as the primary target by club executives following the departure of Guardiola, who concluded a highly decorated, decade-long tenure at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Because Maresca remained legally bound to Chelsea despite leaving Stamford Bridge by mutual consent on New Year’s Day, complex legal negotiations were required between the two Premier League clubs to buy out his remaining three-and-a-half-year contract.
The appointment marks a return to the Etihad for Maresca, who previously managed City’s Elite Development Squad before serving as Guardiola’s assistant during the club’s 2023 treble-winning campaign. His intimate familiarity with Manchester City’s tactical philosophy and internal infrastructure is viewed by the board as vital for ensuring a stable transition into the post-Guardiola era.
