Xabi Alonso has signed his Chelsea contract until June 2030, with the deal fully completed earlier today ahead of the imminent official announcement, according to reports by Fabrizio Romano.
“The contract begins on July 1, but Alonso will start working immediately on player transfers and club matters,” Romano says.
Chelsea has yet to announce the deal. Sky Sports reported earlier that “…Alonso will sign as the new Chelsea manager, not head coach…” Alonso’s arrival follows short spells by Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
The Spanish national, who previously managed Bayer Leverkusen and had a brief stint at Real Madrid, is known for his attractive, possession-based style and his knack for developing young players — something that fits well with Chelsea’s current squad.
The move is designed to finally bring some stability to Stamford Bridge. Reports suggest Alonso made sure he had a strong say over squad matters before putting pen to paper.
Chelsea sacked Maresca in January 2026, brought in Rosenior and then let him go after just four months, before turning to interim boss Calum McFarlane ahead of the FA Cup final, which they lost 1-0 to Manchester City on Saturday.
Alonso enjoyed major success at Bayer Leverkusen before his short time at Real Madrid came to an end in January 2026. He brings tactical discipline and high expectations as the club looks for long-term stability under the current ownership. During his spell at Madrid, he posted a 63% win rate across 73 matches but came under huge pressure after failing to overhaul Barcelona in La Liga.
