Arjun Menon
Xabi Alonso has all but confirmed his move to Chelsea, sharing a report from Spanish outlet Marca on social media with a headline that translates to: “Xabi Alonso, on the verge of becoming Chelsea’s coach.” The Blues have reached an agreement with the former Real Madrid boss on a four-year contract, bringing one of the most sought-after names in European football to Stamford Bridge.
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The 44-year-old has been without a club since his departure from the Santiago Bernabeu in January. Chelsea have been searching for a permanent manager following the sacking of Liam Rosenior, with Calum McFarlane stepping in as interim boss.
As a player, Alonso spent five years with Liverpool between 2004 and 2009. His name had circulated in connection with the Anfield job amid pressure on Arne Slot, but Liverpool appear committed to the Dutchman despite a difficult title defence this season. That opened the door for Chelsea, who moved quickly after talks with Alonso‘s camp confirmed his appetite for a return to the Premier League.
Alonso took charge of Bayer Leverkusen and delivered one of the standout managerial achievements in recent Bundesliga history, guiding the club to a league title while remaining unbeaten across the entire season. He was appointed Real Madrid manager in 2025 but lasted only 34 games, dismissed in January following a 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the Supercopa final. Reports suggest player unrest contributed to his exit, and he has received guarantees at Chelsea regarding his authority over team affairs.
The appointment lands less than 24 hours after Chelsea fell 1-0 to Man City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday. Antoine Semenyo‘s second-half goal sealed a trophyless season for the club.
Alonso will officially begin his role this summer after visiting the club last week. McFarlane will oversee the final two matches of the campaign: a home fixture against Tottenham on Tuesday (8.15pm) and an away match at Sunderland on Sunday, 24 May (4pm). Alonso is expected to watch both closely as he builds his assessment of the squad ahead of the summer window.
He becomes the sixth permanent manager under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, following Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca, and Liam Rosenior. Follow TipsGG for full coverage of Alonso‘s arrival and Chelsea‘s summer rebuild.
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