Enzo Maresca announced as Man City manager with two major transfers in pipeline
Manchester City have confirmed the appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new manager. Maresca has been confirmed as the successor to Pep Guardiola, whose 10-year spell at the Etihad Stadium came to an end following the conclusion of last season.
Maresca has been out of managerial work since hs departure from Chelsea at the start of the year, and is now back in the Premier League as he takes charge of City at the Eithad.
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The 46-year-old has been widely tipped to be City’s next manager following the departure of Guardiola, and now City have confirmed the news on Monday afternoon.
In a statement confirming the news, City said: "Manchester City are delighted to confirm the appointment of Enzo Maresca as manager.
"The Italian has signed a three-year contract until summer 2029.
"For Maresca it will mark his third spell at the club, and he arrives armed with a wealth of experience and success at elite level."
Maresca returns to City having spent time as part of Guardiola’s backroom staff and previously managed the club’s Under-21 side, before going on to take charge of Leicester City, where he led the Foxes to promotion from the Championship in 2024.
His last job was in charge of Chelsea, where he guided the Londoners to the Conference League title and later won the inaugural edition of the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Maresca took to Instagram to post a message, with the new City boss apologising for the manner of his departure from Chelsea.
"At the end of December 2025, I made the difficult decision to leave Chelsea," Maresca wrote. "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."
Chelsea also issued their own statement after Maresca was confirmed as City's new manager, leaving no doubt on how they felt about his exit from the club.
"Chelsea FC appreciates the 2025/26 season was a hugely disappointing one for the club and its supporters," the statement read. "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.
"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.
"Looking forward to next season, in Xabi Alonso, we have a manager who has an exceptional football mind and is a professional of the highest integrity. He has all the attributes to deliver the success the club’s supporters deserve and expect."
City look set for a busy summer transfer window ahead of Maresca’s first season at the club, with some deals already in the works.
The club are close to completing the signing of Elliot Anderson on a permanent deal from Nottingham Forest, with the England international the subject of a £116million switch to the Etihad Stadium and having completed a medical in the USA.
Chelsea star Malo Gusto has also emerged as a potential target for City this summer, which, if completed, would see the right-back reunite with Maresca following the duo’s time at Stamford Bridge.