Chelsea FC has reached an agreement with Xabi Alonso to take over as manager starting next season on a four-year contract, according to reports from The Athletic.
Since leaving Real Madrid in mid-January, the Basque coach had turned down several offers, preferring to wait for the right project to bounce back from what has been described as the most challenging seven months of his coaching career.
London Negotiations and Premier League Ambition
Sources close to Alonso confirm his excitement about moving to the Premier League. While he was initially linked with a return to Liverpool, the “Reds” decided to maintain faith in Arne Slot.
Recent reports indicate that direct meetings took place between Alonso and Chelsea’s board in London last week, where both parties quickly reached an agreement on all contract details.
Beating the Competition Before the 2026 World Cup
Alonso wasn’t the only name on Chelsea’s shortlist; the club also held talks with Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner, and Marco Silva. However, the board ultimately settled on the former midfield maestro.
Chelsea plans to officially announce Alonso’s appointment in the coming days, before the start of the 2026 World Cup, allowing the club to work calmly on their summer transfer targets.
