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Posted on June 30, 2026 10:00 pm | Updated on June 30, 2026 1:46 pm Enzo Maresca joins Manchester City; Chelsea confirm £17m settlement.
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Enzo Maresca has officially joined Manchester City as their new manager, ending months of speculation. His exit from Chelsea last season caused real disruption, and now both clubs have reached a financial settlement to close the chapter.
Why Chelsea are furious over Maresca’s exit?
As reported by Chelsea’s official statement, the club accused Maresca of having his heart set on City long before he resigned. The club said he left abruptly on New Year’s Day. He still had three and a half years left on his contract at that point. This Chelsea news comes after a tough season where results suffered badly following his sudden departure. Chelsea finished tenth in the Premier League and blamed the coaching change for much of that decline. The statement also revealed that City’s interest had been known internally since last autumn. This was well before Maresca’s eventual resignation.
As reported by Sky Sports, Maresca apologized for his exit and said,“I recognise that my departure from Chelsea in the middle of the season caused disruption for the club.” Relationships inside the club had already weakened due to poor form. Public comments also added strain before his resignation was confirmed.
Enzo Maresca’s managerial record at Chelsea, as per FOTMOB:
Matches Won Lost Draw
92 55 21 16
The price of Enzo Maresca leaving Chelsea
City have agreed to pay Chelsea around £17m in compensation. Maresca himself will pay a separate personal settlement as well as Chelsea had reluctantly allowed Maresca to speak with City last year. This was only on the condition that any move would happen after the season ended. When he left early instead, it forced the Blues into a rushed managerial change which disrupted squad planning at a difficult stage of the campaign.
Mid-season exits rarely allow for proper tactical continuity. Chelsea’s results reflected that instability almost right away. Losing a head coach during a packed fixture period often hurts defensive structure and pressing intensity. Players need time to adjust to new instructions from a new coach. That tactical gap likely played a part in Chelsea’s poor run. They managed just one win in their final seven league games before his exit became official.
What comes next for both clubs
For City, appointing Maresca brings back a familiar face in the dugout after Pep Guardiola left. Maresca worked under Guardiola as an assistant during the treble winning season in 2022/23. That spell gave him a clear grasp of City’s style and demands. As Sky Sports reported, Maresca had already proven his pedigree before City came calling, guiding Leicester City to the Championship title in 2023/24 and an instant return to the Premier League. That spell showed his skill at building a structured, possession based system from scratch. His tactical style still leans toward keeping the ball, though he may add more directness compared to his predecessor.
For Chelsea, the focus now shifts toward stability after a hard year. Liam Rosenior lasted just 106 days in charge before he was sacked. The club eventually finished tenth and missed out on European football the following season. Chelsea have since moved on with purpose, appointing Xabi Alonso as their new manager on a four-year deal starting July 1. Supporters will hope the experienced Spaniard, who won the Bundesliga unbeaten at Bayer Leverkusen, can finally bring the stability the club has lacked since Maresca’s exit.
Maresca’s move makes sense from a career view, given his history with Guardiola and City’s project. Still, the timing of his exit left Chelsea exposed mid season, with no replacement lined up and limited time to adjust before crucial fixtures.
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Deepanjali Bhardwaj
Deepanjali Bhardwaj is the Sports Editor at Six Sports, where she leads editorial coverage across cricket, football, and other major sporting events. She oversees newsroom operations, editorial planning, story development, and publishing standards while ensuring every article meets Six Sports' commitment to accuracy, transparency, and responsible journalism. She works closely with writers, editors, and contributors to deliver timely news, match reports, analysis, features, and explainers covering domestic and international competitions. Her editorial approach focuses on factual reporting, clear analysis, and reader-first journalism, helping audiences stay informed about the latest developments across the sporting world. As Sports Editor, Deepanjali plays a key role in maintaining the publication's editorial quality, consistency, and independence while guiding coverage of major leagues, tournaments, teams, and athletes.
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