Enzo Maresca paid some of Chelsea’s compensation claim himself in order to become Manchester City’s new manager.
The 46-year-old Italian, who resigned as head coach at Stamford Bridge midway through last season, has signed a three-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.
It ends weeks of speculation regarding him replacing Pep Guardiola, who stepped down last term after winning 20 trophies during a glittering 10-year reign at City.
A delay in his appointment centred around what Chelsea were owed as Maresca still had more than three years remaining on his deal.
Maresca apologised for the disruption his departure caused and, according to Chelsea, has contributed financially to smooth his return to City.
“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,” said a Chelsea statement.
It is believed the compensation package paid to Chelsea amounts to £17 million ($22.4 million).
Writing on Instagram, the new City boss said: “At the end of December 2025, I made the difficult decision to leave Chelsea.
“The decision was only mine. My resignation from Chelsea opened a path for me to join Manchester City, which is a club I knew very well. I am ecstatic that I have now joined Manchester City.
“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.
“I was treated well by everyone at Chelsea and together we achieved great success and memories that I will always treasure.
“I am grateful to the club, the owners and the fans for giving me the opportunity.”
Following Maresca’s departure from Stamford Bridge, after a poor run of form and a breakdown in his relationship with the club’s ownership, he was immediately installed as favourite to succeed Guardiola when the Spaniard announced he was to leave in the final week of the 2025-26 campaign.
There had already been speculation linking Maresca with a possible return to City, where he was previously assistant manager, for several months.
“Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me,” said Maresca in a statement released by City.
“City is an incredibly well-run football club. Everything they do is innovative, planned and purposeful. For a manager, that is a dream situation. It provides the consistency I need to do my job effectively.
“This will be my third spell here. I know this club, I know the demands and I know the expectations.”
Maresca served as Guardiola’s number two during City’s treble-winning 2022-23 season.
As a manager he led Leicester to promotion to the Premier League in 2024 before guiding Chelsea to Conference League and Club World Cup glory the following year but faces a tough challenge in following the most successful manager in City’s history.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said Maresca was “rejoining an organisation that is entirely in lock-step with his ambition and hunger for achievement and his return to Manchester City is therefore a welcome natural next step for both him and the club”.
City’s chief executive officer Ferran Soriano pledged to give Maresca his full backing, saying: “We will ensure that he receives everything he needs to be successful here and we are all very much looking forward to seeing his positive impact on the next phase of the club’s progress.”
