Manchester City is set to pay a substantial compensation fee to Chelsea in order to finalize the appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new manager. Reports indicate that the fee will exceed $22.8 million (£17 million, €20 million), as confirmed by Sky Sports.

Details of the Compensation Agreement

City has reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Maresca, who is expected to sign a three-year contract to succeed Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. The Italian coach previously served as Guardiola’s assistant during the club's treble-winning season in 2022–23 before moving to Leicester City, where he successfully led the team back to the Premier League in the 2023–24 season. Maresca then joined Chelsea in the summer of 2024 but had a challenging tenure that ended abruptly on New Year’s Day.

Legal Implications of Maresca's Departure

Maresca's exit from Chelsea came with three and a half years remaining on his five-year contract. While Chelsea did not formally sack him, the club's statement suggested a mutual decision to part ways, citing the need for a change to improve the team's performance across multiple competitions. Reports have emerged that City and Maresca initiated discussions regarding his potential move while he was still under contract at Chelsea, prompting the Blues to consider reporting City for an illegal approach and possibly taking legal action against Maresca for breach of contract.

Anticipated Announcement Timeline

As negotiations progress, a settlement between City and Chelsea appears imminent, with Maresca potentially being unveiled as the new manager within the week. This compensation will provide Chelsea with a much-needed financial boost following their failure to qualify for European competition next season, while City looks forward to officially announcing their new head coach.