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Chelsea are reportedly preparing to bring in set-piece specialist Austin MacPhee, who will join Xabi Alonso's coaching staff ahead of the 2026–27 campaign.
According to The Athletic, Chelsea activated a release clause in MacPhee's Aston Villa contract to secure his services. Several other Premier League sides had also been keen on signing the 46-year-old specialist.
MacPhee will depart Aston Villa after five seasons at the club, stepping in to replace Bernardo Cueva as Chelsea's set-piece coach. Cueva will remain part of Alonso's new setup, though he will transition into a more behind-the-scenes capacity.
The fact that the signing of a set-piece coach is making headlines reflects the direction football is heading. Dead-ball situations are receiving increasing attention across the sport's top leagues, with some clubs even prioritizing set pieces over open-play attacking systems as their primary route to goal.
Not long ago, knowing the name of a club's set-piece coach would have been considered obscure knowledge. Today, these specialists play a pivotal role in a team's on-field success — and Chelsea may have just secured one of the finest in the game.
Why Chelsea Invested in Set-Piece Specialist Austin MacPhee
MacPhee transformed Aston Villa into one of the most threatening set-piece teams across Europe, deploying a diverse range of inventive and clinical dead-ball routines that added a potent dimension to Unai Emery's attacking play.
Set-piece goals have become a hallmark of Arsenal, and Nico Joever's contributions as the Gunners' set-piece coach were central to their 2025–26 Premier League title triumph. Yet under MacPhee's direction, Villa netted 29 set-piece goals last season — tied for the most of any club across Europe's top five leagues alongside Arsenal. Chelsea, by comparison, managed 21.
MacPhee's impressive résumé even prompted Portugal to bring him on board last February. The specialist featured on Roberto Martínez's staff during the 2026 World Cup, where the team consistently produced inventive set-piece routines — most memorably, Cristiano Ronaldo being deployed as a decoy on a free kick that Nuno Mendes converted against Uzbekistan.
In a sport and a league where set-piece proficiency has become increasingly vital, there is little doubt that Chelsea have added one of the most sought-after tactical minds in the world to bolster that area of their game.
Chelsea, Aston Villa Continue Doing Business Together
MacPhee's move to Stamford Bridge would mark the third separate transaction between Chelsea and Aston Villa during the summer window, with further deals potentially on the horizon.
Earlier this month, Chelsea made attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers the most expensive British player in history, completing a club-record deal worth $157.3 million (£117 million) to sign the England international from Villa.
Less than a week later, Villa secured winger Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea. Following a difficult debut season at the club, the Argentine joined Villa on loan with an obligation to buy should certain conditions be fulfilled.
MacPhee would become the third individual to move between the two clubs this summer, and further business may be forthcoming, with Villa reportedly eyeing striker Nicolas Jackson.