Chelsea secures Villa's set-piece specialist MacPhee

Austin MacPhee has made the move from Aston Villa to Chelsea after the London club activated a release clause in the Scottish coach's contract. The 46-year-old joined Chelsea's pre-season tour in Hong Kong following the transfer, which was completed amid reported interest from other Premier League clubs and teams from Saudi Arabia's top division. MacPhee's appointment fills a gap in Xabi Alonso's coaching staff as the new Chelsea manager settles into his role at the club. MacPhee has established himself as one of European football's leading specialists in set-piece optimization during his time at Aston Villa. In the 2023-24 season, Villa topped Europe's five major leagues for goals scored directly from set-plays under his guidance. The club maintained that excellence into the following campaign, finishing among the continent's top five for set-piece goals and ultimately sharing the Premier League's joint-best record in that category alongside Arsenal during the most recent season. The coach brings additional international experience to Chelsea, having worked with Portugal's national team for the past five years under manager Roberto Martinez. That role concluded following the World Cup when Martinez stepped down from his position, freeing MacPhee to pursue new opportunities at club level. Chelsea's previous set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva is stepping back from touchline responsibilities to focus on analytical work behind the scenes. Cueva had joined the club from Brentford in 2024 for a fee of £750,000, but the club has opted to shift his role rather than replace him in an identical capacity. MacPhee's arrival represents a fresh strategic investment in that specialized coaching discipline. The MacPhee signing is one of several moves Chelsea has made during this transfer window under Alonso's management. The club secured Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa this week for £117 million, while sending Alejandro Garnacho in the opposite direction on an initial loan arrangement that carries an option to buy, likely to become permanent.