Manchester City have reached a verbal agreement with Chelsea over a £17.26 million (€20m) compensation package for Enzo Maresca, according to reports in Italy. The 46-year-old is set to replace Pep Guardiola as head coach on a three-year deal starting from the 2026/27 season.
Why Manchester City Must Pay a Fee
Maresca resigned from his position at Chelsea despite being under contract until June 2029. Under Premier League rules, Chelsea were entitled to compensation if he joined another club during that period. The two clubs had been locked in talks for several weeks after Chelsea threatened court action over claims Maresca had been allegedly tapped up by City. Lawyers worked to thrash out an agreement, and the matter has now been settled amicably without court proceedings.
Where the Fee Ranks Among the Highest
If confirmed, the £17.26m fee would make Maresca the third-most expensive coaching appointment in football history, according to Transfermarkt. The record is held jointly by Graham Potter, who moved from Brighton to Chelsea for £21.58m (€25m) in 2022, and Julian Nagelsmann, who joined Bayern Munich from RB Leipzig in 2021 for the same figure. Maresca's fee surpasses Jose Mourinho's £13.8m (€16m) compensation when he left Inter Milan for Real Madrid in 2010.
Other Notable Compensation Fees
Mourinho's subsequent return to Madrid from Benfica this summer cost a further £12.95m (€15m). Chelsea also paid the same amount to appoint Andre Villas-Boas in 2011, only for the Portuguese to be sacked eight months later. Their new coach Xabi Alonso commanded a £12.95m buyout from Bayer Leverkusen to Madrid but failed to last the season. Vincent Kompany's £10.36m (€12m) move from Burnley to Bayern Munich in 2023 has proved a bargain, with the Belgian winning two consecutive Bundesliga titles. Ruben Amorim's transfer from Braga to Sporting Lisbon cost £8.9m (€10.4m), while Brendan Rodgers' move from Celtic to Leicester City in 2019 was also £8.9m.
Maresca's Previous Move
Maresca's initial appointment at Chelsea from Leicester City in 2024 cost £8.63m (€10m), which did not make the top 10. Chelsea have profited from the Italian's reign after winning two trophies, but City will hope he can deliver similar success at the Etihad.
