Following Chelsea’s appointment of Xabi Alonso – we’re looking at the Spaniard’s recruitment history to work out what might be in store for the Blues transfer-wise this summer
It looks like Xabi Alonso will have a lot of money to spend this summer(Image: Getty Images)
Chelsea look ready to place enormous trust in Xabi Alonso as they look set to hand him a transfer kitty greater than his entire career spending as a head coach so far. The Spaniard was announced as Chelsea’s new manager on Sunday, though won’t take over until July 1.
His appointment is viewed as a major coup for Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo, who have gone through five permanent managers amidst a turbulent period of transition since taking over in 2022. By persuading Alonso to take the reins at Stamford Bridge, the hierarchy have evidently made assurances they have not extended to previous incumbents.
The former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager is understood to have been offered a far greater degree of control over recruitment, with a clearer voice in shaping the squad to fit his tactical vision.
There are also reports that Chelsea have committed to providing at least three ‘ready-made’ signings to strengthen the first team immediately, suggesting that their transfer outlay this summer could hit – or even surpass – the £300m mark.
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With that in mind, we’re taking a look back at the signings Alonso has made over the course of his brief managerial career to assess what they reveal about his recruitment strategy – and what Chelsea might have in store this summer. As it stands, Alonso has spent just over £270million as a manager – a tally that looks set to rise soon enough.
2022/23 – Bayer Leverkusen
- Noah Mbamba (£86,000)
- Patrick Pentz (free)
- Gustavo Puerta (£1.7m)
Despite arriving at Bayer Leverkusen midway through the campaign with the club languishing in the relegation zone, Alonso resisted the temptation to overhaul the squad in the January transfer window. In fact, the three players he brought in went on to make just a single appearance between them.
That said, a major squad rebuild was not required and Alonso instead focused on stabilising and improving an already capable group featuring the likes of Florian Wirtz, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong and Patrick Schick. His impact was immediate, driving a significant upturn in form as Leverkusen won 11 of their 15 Bundesliga matches between November and April to climb to sixth place and secure a strong finish to the season.
2023/24 – Bayer Leverkusen
- Alex Grimaldo (free)
- Arthur (£6m)
- Jonas Hofmann (£8.6m)
- Granit Xhaka (£21.7m)
- Victor Boniface (£17.3m)
- Matej Kovar (£4.3m)
- Josip Stanisic (loan)
- Nathan Tella (£20.2m)
Unlike his conservative approach in the previous winter window, Alonso orchestrated a summer recruitment masterclass ahead of his first full season in charge. Granit Xhaka brought indispensable leadership and tactical discipline to the midfield, while Alex Grimaldo proved to be a superb free transfer, delivering astonishing numbers from left wing-back.
Up front, Victor Boniface provided the physical, clinical focal point the team had lacked and hit the ground running with 21 goals in all competitions, with the creative Jonas Hofmann, winger Nathan Tella and versatile loanee Josip Stanisic providing support from deeper positions.
This expertly curated influx of talent laid the foundation for one of the most legendary campaigns in football history. Alonso’s transformed squad completely blew the Bundesliga apart, capturing the club’s first-ever league title and the DFB-Pokal to secure an unprecedented, undefeated domestic double.
2024/25 – Bayer Leverkusen
- Jeanuel Belocian (£13m)
- Andrea Natali (free)
- Aleix Garcia (£15.5m)
- Martin Terrier (£17.3m)
- Nordi Mukiele (loan)
- Emi Buendia (loan)
- Mario Hermoso (loan)
In 2024/2025, Alonso’s objective shifted from reshaping the starting XI to building crucial squad depth for a demanding Champions League campaign. Rather than hunting for blockbuster stars, Leverkusen focused on tactical versatility.
Aleix Garcia brought elite passing insurance to the midfield, Martin Terrier added proven final-third experience and a string of defensive and creative loans provided the necessary coverage to handle a gruelling multi-competition schedule.
Inevitably, maintaining the flawless, invincible standard of the previous year proved to be an impossible task as Leverkusen adjusted to life as the hunted, ultimately finishing second in the league behind Bayern Munich. However, these depth additions allowed Alonso to heavily rotate his squad, ensuring the club remained a formidable force at the top of the Bundesliga and firmly established their status among Europe’s elite.
2025/26 – Real Madrid
- Dean Huijsen (£54.3m)
- Trent Alexander-Arnold (£9m)
- Alvaro Carreras (£43.5m)
- Franco Mastantuono (£39m)
Taking the reins at the Bernabeu, Alonso aimed to future-proof Real Madrid’s squad with an aggressive youth-centric recruitment drive. Snaring Trent Alexander-Arnold for a cut-price fee was something of a coup to anchor the right flank, while Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras arrived to further bolster the backline.
In attack, triggering the clause for Argentine prodigy Franco Mastantuono added depth up front. However, Alonso’s ambitious project quickly collided with the unforgiving realities of the Madrid pressure cooker. Instead of launching a dominant new era, the team endured a deeply turbulent campaign marked by dressing room friction and inconsistent form.
The young additions took a while to settle, as did Alexander-Arnold, who spent much of the early part of the campaign watching on from the bench. Alonso ultimately only lasted half the season in the hotseat, being relieved of his duties in January.
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