Xabi Alonso (44), the former Spanish midfielder, has reached a full agreement to take over as Chelsea's new manager, according to The Athletic. The Spanish expert visited London at the beginning of last week and accepted the offer, with a four-year contract now being finalized. An official announcement is expected soon.

Alonso has been a primary target for Chelsea since the start, and the Real Madrid coach was open to making the move to Stamford Bridge. The Athletic reported on Monday that the club was seeking ways to engage Alonso as a permanent successor to Liam Rosenior, with former Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola also mentioned as a serious candidate.

The former Spanish, Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich star has been out of work since Real Madrid terminated his contract in January, just seven months after signing a three-year deal last summer. Alonso joined the Royal Club after leading Bayer Leverkusen to a historic first Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 season without a single home defeat.

Alonso Returns to the Premier League

Despite leading Real Madrid to ten wins out of their first 11 La Liga matches, including a victory in the El Clasico match on October 24th, the club ended up four points behind the champions, Barcelona, and lost to them in the final of the Spanish Super Cup.

Alonso is returning to the Premier League, where he spent five years playing for Liverpool, winning the Champions League in 2007. Chelsea parted ways with Rosenior on April 23rd after less than four months at the club.

The former coach of Strasbourg, who succeeded Enzo Maresc in January, was replaced following a string of five consecutive league defeats. Calum McFarlane led the team as an interim coach until the end of the season, recording a loss to Nottingham Forest and a draw with Liverpool, and guiding the club to the FA Cup final.

Shift in Chelsea's Power Dynamics?

It is a significant relief for Chelsea that the appointment has been resolved well before the summer transfer deadline and the World Cup, and the choice of Alonso, at least on paper, meets all the criteria, The Athletic analyzes.

Alonso's achievements with Bayer Leverkusen demonstrate his ability to create a winning team, and his status as a player legend should ensure the authority that Liam Rosenior apparently lacked.

The way Alonso sets his teams, although he has shown a willingness to adapt his system to the players available, fits well with Chelsea's current squad profile, and a clear vision of play should accelerate any potential reinforcements, according to The Athletic.

The biggest question mark surrounding Alonso arises from his short stint at Real Madrid, where he did not find a smooth fit in the club's operations.