Chelsea have appointed Xabi Alonso as their new manager and are set to hand him a gigantic transfer budget
Xabi Alonso
It looks like Xabi Alonso will have a lot of money to spend this summer(Image: Getty Images)
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Chelsea look prepared to place huge faith in Xabi Alonso, with plans to back him in the transfer market this summer. The Spanish coach was confirmed as Chelsea's new boss on Sunday, although he will not officially begin until July 1.
His arrival is seen as a significant coup for Chelsea owners BlueCo, who have already cycled through five permanent managers during a chaotic period of transition since their 2022 takeover. By convincing Alonso to take charge at Stamford Bridge, the leadership appear to have offered guarantees that were not previously extended to earlier managers.
The former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid head coach is reported to have been given much greater authority over recruitment, along with a stronger role in defining the squad around his tactical approach.
There are also reports that Chelsea have promised at least three "ready-made" additions to immediately improve the first team, implying that total spending this summer could reach - or even exceed - £300m.
With that in mind, we are revisiting the signings Alonso has made throughout his short managerial career to assess what they suggest about his recruitment style - and what Chelsea might expect in the upcoming window. So far, Alonso has spent just over £270m as a manager, a figure that could more than double this summer.
2022/23 - Bayer Leverkusen
Noah Mbamba (£86,000)
Patrick Pentz (free)
Gustavo Puerta (£1.7m)
Although he joined Bayer Leverkusen midway through a season where the club were stuck in the relegation zone, Alonso chose not to radically reshape the squad in the January window. In fact, the three players he signed only managed a single appearance between them.
Instead, a major rebuild was unnecessary, so Alonso concentrated on steadying and enhancing an already strong group that included Florian Wirtz, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong and Patrick Schick. The effect was immediate, with a noticeable rise in performances as Leverkusen won 11 of their final 15 Bundesliga matches from November to April, climbing to sixth place and finishing strongly.
Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen in 2022
Xabi Alonso joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2022 following an impressive spell in charge of Real Sociedad B(Image: Getty Images)
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2023/24 - Bayer Leverkusen
Alex Grimaldo (free)
Arthur (£6m)
Jonas Hofmann (£8.6m)
Granit Xhaka (£21.7m)
Victor Boniface (£17.3m)
Matej Kovar (£4.3m)
Josip Stanisic (loan)
Nathan Tella (£20.2m)
In contrast to his cautious winter approach, Alonso delivered a standout summer recruitment window ahead of his first full campaign. Granit Xhaka added leadership and structure in midfield, while Alex Grimaldo proved to be an exceptional free signing, producing outstanding attacking output from left wing-back.
Up front, Victor Boniface supplied the powerful and clinical presence the side had been missing, scoring freely with 21 goals in all competitions. Meanwhile Jonas Hofmann, Nathan Tella and the versatile Josip Stanisic offered valuable support across attacking and deeper roles.
This carefully assembled squad became the backbone of one of the most remarkable seasons in football history. Alonso's side dominated the Bundesliga, winning the club's first league title along with the DFB-Pokal to complete an unprecedented unbeaten domestic double.
Xabi Alonso lifts the Bundesliga trophy with his Bayer Leverkusen players
Alonso's Leverkusen were dubbed 'Neverlusen' after winning the Bundesliga title without losing a single game(Image: Getty Images)
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2024/25 - Bayer Leverkusen
Jeanuel Belocian (£13m)
Andrea Natali (free)
Aleix Garcia (£15.5m)
Martin Terrier (£17.3m)
Nordi Mukiele (loan)
Emi Buendia (loan)
Mario Hermoso (loan)
By 2024/25, Alonso's focus had shifted away from rebuilding the starting XI toward strengthening squad depth for a demanding Champions League season. Rather than targeting headline signings, Leverkusen prioritised flexibility and cover across multiple positions.
Aleix Garcia added technical security and passing quality in midfield, Martin Terrier brought experience and finishing ability in the final third, while several loan arrivals reinforced both defensive and creative options to cope with a packed schedule.
Unsurprisingly, repeating the perfect unbeaten season proved unrealistic as opponents adapted and Bayern Munich reclaimed the league title, leaving Leverkusen second. Even so, the new additions allowed Alonso to rotate heavily, keeping the team competitive across all competitions and firmly established among Europe's elite.
2025/26 - Real Madrid
Xabi Alonso embraces Trent Alexander-Arnold
After joining Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso signed Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
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Dean Huijsen (£54.3m)
Trent Alexander-Arnold (£9m)
Alvaro Carreras (£43.5m)
Franco Mastantuono (£39m)
After taking over at the Bernabeu, Alonso focused on modernising Real Madrid's squad through a youth-driven recruitment strategy. Signing Trent Alexander-Arnold for a reduced fee stood out as a major coup to strengthen the right side, while Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras were brought in to further reinforce the back line.
In attack, activating the buyout clause for Argentine talent Franco Mastantuono added further promise in forward areas. However, Alonso's tenure quickly ran into trouble amid the intense pressure and expectations of being Madrid boss. Rather than ushering in immediate dominance, the team struggled with inconsistency and dressing room friction.
The younger players took time to adapt - and Alexander-Arnold also spent much of the early season on the bench. Alonso was ultimately sacked halfway through the campaign, with Alvaro Arbeloa replacing him.