Enzo Maresca apologizes to Chelsea as Manchester City seals appointment

Enzo Maresca has officially assumed the role of manager at Manchester City, with the club confirming his appointment on Monday, 29 June 2026. This transition follows months of legal negotiations and high-stakes tension between the Etihad Stadium hierarchy and his previous club, Chelsea. The conclusion of this dispute, marked by confidential settlement agreements involving both Manchester City and the manager himself, allows the reigning Premier League side to move forward with plans for the upcoming campaign under their new leadership.

The appointment brings a definitive end to a period of instability that originated during the 2025-26 season. Chelsea issued a statement on 29 June 2026, characterizing the recent campaign as "hugely disappointing" and directly attributing their failure to qualify for European competition to the mid-season managerial transition necessitated by Maresca's departure. According to the London club, Maresca informed them as early as autumn 2025 of his interest in the Manchester City vacancy, which he identified as a goal despite being under a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge.

Media additions

Enzo Maresca: Former Chelsea boss apologises for Stamford Bridge exit and will pay compensation as Man City confirm appointment

The situation at Chelsea escalated in December 2025, a month marked by poor form and public friction. Following a victory over Everton in mid-December 2025, the manager publicly stated he had endured his "worst 48 hours" at the club. His exit on 1 January 2026 followed a period where he felt his position had become untenable. Chelsea, in their public indictment, stated that they felt "let down" because they believed the manager’s focus had shifted entirely toward the Manchester City opportunity well before his abrupt resignation.

In response to the formal criticism from his former employers, Maresca utilized Instagram to acknowledge his role in the upheaval.

"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."

Enzo Maresca, Manager, via Instagram

The financial terms of the transition include a settlement understood to be £17m paid by Manchester City to Chelsea. Additionally, Maresca has agreed to pay compensation personally for terminating his contract prematurely. Chelsea has since looked to stabilize its future, using the announcement of the settlement to praise their new manager, Xabi Alonso, as a "professional of the highest integrity" with an "exceptional Football mind."

For Manchester City, the resolution of the dispute is a welcome development as they prepare for the future. Maresca, who previously served as an assistant under Pep Guardiola during the 2022-23 treble-winning season, expressed his enthusiasm for the move. He described the environment at Manchester City as "innovative, planned and purposeful," noting that the club provides the "consistency" he requires to manage effectively.

As both clubs look toward the new season, the focus shifts to how the transition will impact their respective fortunes. While Chelsea attempts to move past a season that saw them finish in 10th place, Manchester City now begins an era post-Guardiola, relying on a manager who knows the club’s systems intimately. The formal closure of the legal proceedings marks the final chapter in a saga that dominated the narrative of the 2025-26 season, setting the stage for a new competitive dynamic in the upcoming year.