Chelsea Confirm Maresca Compensation As Man City Appointment Ends Bitter Exit

Chelsea have confirmed that Enzo Maresca will pay compensation to the club after his appointment as Manchester City’s new head coach was finalised.

The 46-year-old Italian coach signed a three-year contract at the Etihad Stadium, replacing Pep Guardiola, who stepped down in May after a trophy-filled decade in charge.

Naija News gathered that City’s move for Maresca was delayed while both clubs negotiated a compensation package. Although neither side disclosed the figure, BBC Sport reported that Manchester City will pay Chelsea about £17 million.

The payment is separate from a confidential settlement agreed between Chelsea and Maresca, under which the former Blues boss will also compensate the London club.

Chelsea issued a strongly worded statement explaining the circumstances surrounding Maresca’s departure midway through last season, placing much of the blame for their disappointing 2025/26 campaign on his decision to leave.

According to the club, Maresca informed senior officials during the autumn that he wanted to succeed Guardiola if the opportunity arose.

“Chelsea FC appreciates the 2025/26 season was a hugely disappointing one for the Club and its supporters. A major contributing factor was the disruption caused as a result of changes that the Club was forced to make to the Head Coach position over the Christmas period,” the club said.

“Due to recent developments, we consider that it is important to explain to our supporters what happened and why our former Head Coach left the Club on 1 January 2026.

“In Autumn last year, the Club was informed by our former Head Coach that there might be an opportunity for him to succeed Pep Guardiola at the end of the season.

“It became clear to us that it was his strong desire to succeed Guardiola and that he was fully committed to pursuing the opportunity, despite the fact he was under a long-term contract which he had no right to terminate.

“In December 2025, our Head Coach unexpectedly and abruptly resigned from his position. Obviously, we felt let down as we believed that his head and heart were focused on another club and another opportunity, despite having just arrived at Chelsea the year before.

“No club wants to change its head coach midway through a season. However, in light of his decision not to continue fulfilling his responsibilities through to the end of the season, the Club was left with no choice but to protect our players, our supporters, and the Badge and accept his resignation.

“In the circumstances and given the mutual respect between clubs, a confidential settlement has been reached with Manchester City, which includes the payment of compensation. A confidential settlement has also been reached with the former Head Coach under which he will pay compensation.”

Maresca, who previously worked as Guardiola’s assistant during Manchester City’s Treble-winning 2022/23 campaign, has admitted that resigning from Chelsea paved the way for his return.

He also accepted responsibility for the manner of his exit and apologised to Chelsea supporters.

“The decision was only mine,” Maresca wrote on Instagram.

“I recognise that my departure from Chelsea in the middle of the season caused disruption for the club and I apologise for that. It was neither my intention nor my wish.”