Enzo Maresca has agreed to succeed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City this summer, but his arrival at the Etihad has been delayed amid a dispute with his former club, Chelsea.

Maresca formally left Chelsea on January 1, 2026, after a turbulent spell that included a public intervention at a press conference in which he said a lack of support from “people in general” had contributed to the “worst 48 hours” of his time at Chelsea. The press conference followed a period in which he repeatedly clashed with the club’s ownership over transfers and team selection.

Reports indicate City began monitoring Maresca in December while he remained under contract at Stamford Bridge. The Italian spoke to City while still employed by Chelsea and, under the terms of his agreement with the Blues, was required to disclose those talks to the club’s owners. The subsequent public row and Maresca’s departure came around two weeks later.

Chelsea regard the exit as a turning point in a season that then deteriorated. The club’s problems were not confined to the pitch: his departure led to further financial consequences following the hiring and later dismissal of Liam Rosenior, for which compensation was paid.

Because Maresca is no longer employed by Chelsea, the club accepts they cannot block his final negotiations with City. The initial contact, however, is the subject of Chelsea’s complaint. Chelsea did not give permission for City to speak with Maresca, a contracted employee, and The Guardian state Chelsea believe they have sufficient evidence to report City to the Premier League for an illegal approach.

Chelsea are also said to be considering a separate claim against Maresca for breach of contract. Until those issues are resolved, City’s confirmation of Maresca remains on hold and the move is being pushed back.

Xabi Alonso’s tenure at Chelsea begins with a short trip to west London rivals Fulham on the opening day of the 2026/27 Premier League season. An early visit to reigning champions Arsenal arrives as soon as gameweek three. Chelsea remain in London until mid-October, when they travel to Merseyside to face Everton. A busy October then features home games against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

Alonso’s first meeting with former employers Liverpool comes at Stamford Bridge in early December, immediately followed by a trip to face Manchester City, expected to be led by former Blues boss Enzo Maresca. Those fixtures are reversed across the final week of April and the first week of May, when Chelsea will travel to Anfield and host Manchester City.

Chelsea travel to Old Trafford to face Man Utd in February and host Arsenal in mid-March. May brings a trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The season runs toward its conclusion with visits to Everton and Bournemouth followed by a final-day meeting at home with Brentford.

Live TV broadcasts will be chosen for select Premier League games throughout the season, dates and/or kick-off times remain subject to change. All kick-off times stated are Eastern Time (ET) and British Summer Time (BST) or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), depending on the time of year.

Full fixture list (date — fixture, kick-off time as stated):
24 August — Fulham vs. Chelsea, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST
29 August — Chelsea vs. Brighton and Hove Albion, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
5 September — Arsenal vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
12 September — Chelsea vs. Hull City, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
19 September — Brentford vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
10 October — Chelsea vs. Bournemouth, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
17 October — Everton vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
24 October — Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
31 October — Chelsea vs. Manchester United, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
7 November — Sunderland vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
21 November — Chelsea vs. Leeds United, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
28 November — Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
2 December — Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT
5 December — Chelsea vs. Liverpool, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
12 December — Manchester City vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
19 December — Chelsea vs. Aston Villa, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
26 December — Coventry City vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
30 December — Ipswich Town vs. Chelsea, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT
2 January — Chelsea vs. Newcastle United, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
6 January — Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT
16 January — Chelsea vs. Sunderland, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
23 January — Leeds United vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
30 January — Chelsea vs. Nottingham Forest, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
6 February — Manchester United vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
10 February — Newcastle United vs. Chelsea, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT
20 February — Chelsea vs. Ipswich Town, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
27 February — Aston Villa vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
3 March — Chelsea vs. Coventry City, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT
13 March — Chelsea vs. Arsenal, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
20 March — Hull City vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. GMT
10 April — Chelsea vs. Fulham, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
17 April — Brighton and Hove Albion vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
24 April — Chelsea vs. Manchester City, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
1 May — Liverpool vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
8 May — Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
15 May — Chelsea vs. Everton, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
23 May — Bournemouth vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST
Final day — Chelsea vs. Brentford (home).

Chelsea’s recruitment direction looks set to shift with Mauricio Alonso thought to have increased sway after a sporting-director structure that presided over a 10th-place Premier League finish last season. An incoming coach will likely prioritize left-back options that fit his preferred patterns, blending ball progression with defensive reliability.

Myles Lewis-Skelly is exactly the type of versatile, silky, ball-centric player that would suit Alonso. Chelsea also have a history of poaching Arsenal’s homegrown left-back talents. However, any deal would be costly given the teenager’s lengthy contract and Arsenal’s apparent reluctance to part ways.

“La minestra riscaldata non è mai buona, reheated soup never tastes as good.” Still, a return could appeal if presented as a clearer pathway than the one Lewis Hall currently faces at Newcastle United. Hall left west London for the north east in 2023 and has blossomed into a well-rounded defender who offers creativity and solidity. Newcastle, as a collective, have not mirrored Hall’s rise and managed to finish even lower than Chelsea last term. It remains to be seen if Alonso would want to tempt Hall back south, but he wouldn’t be the first gem Chelsea bought back after initially letting go.

Antonee Robinson presents a different profile. During the 2024–25 season, he became the first Fulham player to ever register 10 Premier League assists in a single campaign. The tireless force of nature was just as productive defensively, earning links to some of the division’s elite. Robinson hasn’t created a top-flight goal for any teammate since February 2025. Knee surgery last summer derailed his start to the 2025–26 campaign, which largely served as a setting for the U.S. international to work his way back to full health ahead of a home World Cup. Now fit and firing once again, Robinson’s stock is back on the rise and Manchester United are reportedly sniffing around. At 28, he is older than the talents Chelsea have typically targeted under BlueCo, but some experience could be valuable for a squad that has struggled with excessive youth.

Less than two years ago, Arsène Kouassi was playing in France’s third tier. The 22-year-old took Ligue 1 by storm last season, operating chiefly as a wingback in Lorient’s 3-4-2-1. Kouassi racked up six assists, a tally bettered by only one other defender in the French top flight. If Alonso experiments with a back-three, Kouassi could be an ideal outlet down the left.