Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their new permanent manager on a four-year contract, with the Spaniard set to begin his role on July 1, 2026. The appointment follows a period of managerial instability at Stamford Bridge, after Enzo Maresca departed earlier in the year and interim coach Calum McFarlane oversaw the final fixtures under interim arrangements following Liam Rosenior’s dismissal in April. Alonso’s arrival marks a turning point as the club moves to stabilize its leadership ahead of the next campaign.
In the meantime, Chelsea secured a 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur in mid-May and are due to finish the 2025-26 season with their away match at Sunderland on May 24. The season has featured frequent managerial changes and a sequence of results that the club hopes Alonso will steady across a four-year project at Stamford Bridge.