Enzo Maresca CONFIRMS Chelsea plan for bizarre summer signing

Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith
  • 12 Sept 2025 11:00 BST
  • 4 min read
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea
© IMAGO

Enzo Maresca has confirmed that summer signing Facundo Buonanotte will play a role at Chelsea this summer.

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The 20-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge on a season-long loan deal from Brighton & Hove Albion on Transfer Deadline Day, despite a fairly underwhelming temporary spell at Leicester City last year.

Current ETV
Player image Facundo Buonanotte 
Facundo Buonanotte 

AM (C), M (CR)

Leicester logo

Leicester

Facundo Buonanotte 
Facundo Buonanotte 

AM (C), M (CR)

Leicester

Leicester

€30M

ETV Range

€27M - €33M

The Argentine registered nine goal contributions in all competitions for the Foxes last term, but he only started four of their final 22 Premier League matches after falling out of favour under Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Despite this, Chelsea opted to bring him to west London on a one-year loan deal without an option to buy after missing out on Xavi Simons to Tottenham Hotspur and failing to sign Barcelona star Fermin Lopez.

Buonanotte was subsequently excluded from Chelsea’s squad for their Champions League campaign, but Maresca has revealed that he will play a role at Stamford Bridge this year.

“Buonanotte is a good player," Maresca said during his press conference ahead of Chelsea's clash versus Brentford on Saturday. "He was at Leicester, so I had some contact there. He can help us. We have so many competitions and games, so he will get minutes.”

Facundo Buonanotte spent last season on loan at Leicester
© IMAGO - Facundo Buonanotte spent last season on loan at Leicester

Enzo Maresca reveals Chelsea transfer opinion

Maresca also provided an update on Alejandro Garnacho following his late move from Manchester United before the end of the summer transfer window.

“He is working well,” Maresca said. “For sure, he needs to work because he arrived here not 100% fit. He needs to work. He is working well and we will see. Hopefully we can give him minutes.”

Meanwhile, Maresca confirmed his honest thoughts about Chelsea’s business during the recent transfer window.

“I think we have a good squad. In my press conference one year ago, I said I was in love with the squad, so the squad was already really good. Since then we have tried to make some changes, but overall I think the squad is really good.”

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