Enzo Maresca has signed a long-term deal before being unveiled as Chelsea’s new manager.
The Italian arrives at Stamford Bridge on a five-year contract, which includes a 12-month extension through the club.
Maresca will bring six of his collaborators: Willy Caballero, Danny Walker, Michele De Bernardin, Marcos Alvarez, Javier Molina Caballero and Roberto Vitiello.
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They will join Chelsea as Ben Roberts, Hilario and Bernardo Cueva.
A deal was also signed between Chelsea and Leicester on Sunday, offering a refund of around £10 million.
Chelsea are said to be sensitive to the upheavals caused to Leicester ahead of their return to the Premier League and would appreciate the elegance and professionalism they have shown throughout.
An announcement on Maresca’s appointment is expected on Monday and he will appear before the media later in the week.
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Leicester City on Monday granted Chelsea permission to play with the 44-year-old.
Maresca signed for Leicester last summer and guided them to the league title and automatic promotion to the Premier League.
The former Manchester City assistant was also part of the coaching staff of Sevilla and West Ham United, before a brief stint as Parma’s head coach in the Italian second department at the start of the 2021-22 season, where he parted after just six wins in 14. 14 games.
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During a long career, Maresca played for clubs such as West Bromwich Albion, Juventus, Fiorentina and Sevilla, before retiring in 2017.
Maresca becomes the sixth coach since the club bought through Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in 2022.
Thomas Tuchel was sacked in September 2022, and his replacement, Graham Potter, was also sacked less than seven months later in April 2023. Bruno Saltor and then Frank Lampard took over as Chelsea’s interim manager, before Mauricio Pochettino will name him before the 2023 season. 24 seasons.
Chelsea and Pochettino mutually agreed on tactical components last week after the club finished sixth in the Premier League and secured a Europa Conference League position next season.
(Warren Petit/Getty Images)
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David Ornstein joined The Athletic in October 2019 after 12 years as a sports journalist and BBC correspondent. As a football correspondent, he is guilty of generating exclusive and original stories and interviews, providing information and analysis. Work through video, audio, and writing. Follow David on Twitter@David_Ornstein