Revealed: How much Man City paid Chelsea to hire Enzo Maresca as new manager | OneFootball

Manchester City have paid Chelsea an eight-figure sum to release Enzo Maresca from his Stamford Bridge contract and hire the Italian as their new manager.

Following the announcement of Pep Guardiola’s departure after a trophy-laden decade in Manchester, City officials spent weeks conducting behind-the-scenes negotiations to secure the 46-year-old Italian tactician on a three-year contract.

Maresca, who previously excelled inside City by guiding the Elite Development Squad to a league title before serving as Guardiola’s assistant during the 2022/23 Treble campaign, was identified early as the No.1 target tasked with sustaining the club’s philosophy.

The completion of the appointment brings total clarity to the club’s summer objectives, having already demonstrated financial muscle by finalising a club-record £116 million package for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, with the player completing a medical in Kansas.

With Enzo Maresca having already spent time at the training ground, the formal resolution of his contractual stand-off allows Manchester City to smoothly accelerate their remaining team building before the August 23 season opener against Bournemouth.

Man City, Maresca, and Chelsea reach financial settlements

Now, according to MailSport’s Jack Gaughan and Kieran Gill, Manchester City are paying Premier League rivals Chelsea a compensation package worth £17 million to hire Enzo Maresca as their successor to Pep Guardiola.

Follow-up reporting from ESPN’s Rob Dawson states that sources close to City have insisted their relationship with those at Stamford Bridge remains good, and the delay in announcing the Italian was down to the contractual dispute between the 46-year-old and his former club.

A statement from Chelsea also confirmed such details, including the revealing of a settlement between themselves and Enzo Maresca.

“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,” Chelsea said on Monday afternoon.

“A confidential settlement has also been reached with the former Head Coach [Enzo Maresca] under which he will pay compensation.”

The Enzo Maresca era begins

Manchester City’s boardroom has remained entirely relaxed throughout the legal dispute, safely maintaining a collaborative dialogue with Chelsea bosses while allowing legal professionals to resolve the technicalities.

With Maresca officially unveiled, the newly-appointed manager will now likely continue plans for the new season alongside Hugo Viana to map out immediate first-team expectations and pre-season preparations ahead of the club’s summer tour of Hong Kong and South Korea.

City transfer chiefs can also maintain attention on resolving ongoing transfer objectives, including interest in Chelsea’s French international right-back Malo Gusto and possibly accelerating for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali.