Chelsea have finalized the appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new head coach, the successor to Mauricio Pochettino.
The agreement, now completed, includes a contract valid until June 2029, with a five-year deal and an option to extend until June 2030. Chelsea is set to pay a compensation fee to Leicester City for the move.
The 44-year-old Italian took over the Foxes in June 2023 and successfully led them back to the Premier League by winning the Championship in his first season.
šØšµ Chelsea have agreed to appoint Enzo Maresca as new head coach, here we go!
āļø Understand the agreement is now done on contract valid until June 2029, five year deal.
It will also include an option to extend until June 2030.#CFC, set to pay compensation fee to Leicester. pic.twitter.com/o8CsGF9Jcx
ā Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 28, 2024
Pochettino left the club by mutual consent last week after finishing sixth in the Premier League in his sole season in charge.
BBC Sport reports that Leicester would seek Ā£8m-Ā£10m in compensation for Maresca, who previously served as Pep Guardiolaās assistant at Manchester City.
Marescaās background as Guardiolaās assistant was positively viewed, with board members noting the successful rebuilding job done by Mikel Arteta, another Guardiola protĆ©gĆ©, at Arsenal.
Chelsea aims to build an elite structure and hopes that a hands-on, tactically proficient coach can maximize the potential of their expensively assembled squad.
Former Manchester United assistant manager McKenna, who led Ipswich to promotion from the Championship, is being linked with Brighton and a possible return to Old Trafford if FA Cup winners Manchester United decide to part ways with Erik ten Hag.
Ipswich wants to retain McKenna and is expected to offer him a new contract, although there were indications last week that he might not renew his deal. McKenna is contracted to Ipswich until 2027, and any club interested in him would need to pay at least Ā£4m in compensation.