Chelsea are on the verge of appointing Xabi Alonso as the club’s new manager after reaching an agreement in principle on a four-year contract, according to multiple reports.
The 44-year-old reportedly visited London earlier this month and accepted the opportunity to take over at Stamford Bridge, with an official announcement expected in the coming days. Alonso had emerged as Chelsea’s leading target throughout the search process.
The former midfielder has been out of management since leaving Real Madrid in January after a short spell in charge. Before his time in Madrid, Alonso significantly raised his profile by guiding Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title during an unbeaten domestic campaign.
Reports indicate Chelsea considered several other candidates during the search, including Andoni Iraola, but Alonso remained the preferred choice among key figures at the club and reportedly received strong backing internally.
Recall that Chelsea have been seeking a permanent successor to former manager Liam Rosenior, with the club hoping Alonso can provide long-term stability after another period of managerial changes.
