Chelsea is closing in on Austin MacPhee, widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s top set-piece specialists, after triggering a release clause in his Aston Villa contract. MacPhee reportedly said his goodbyes to Villa players and staff on July 24, capping a five-season stint that transformed the club’s dead-ball threat into a genuine competitive weapon.

The hire would slot MacPhee into Xabi Alonso’s coaching setup at Stamford Bridge.

Why a set-piece coach matters more than you think

MacPhee joined Villa in August 2021 and spent five years turning dead-ball situations into reliable scoring opportunities. Before Chelsea came calling, MacPhee had drawn interest from another Premier League club and Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Villa tried to keep him. They couldn’t.

MacPhee, born October 11, 1979, has also served as assistant head coach of the Portugal national team since February 2025. That dual role, club specialist plus international assistant, speaks to a coach whose expertise transcends a single tactical domain.

What Chelsea gains, and what Villa loses

For Aston Villa, losing MacPhee stings. His departure has been described as a significant blow. Replacing a coach who has spent half a decade embedding routines and building relationships with players isn’t like swapping out a plug-and-play assistant. The institutional knowledge walks out the door with him.

Villa will also have to contend with the optics. Losing a key staff member to a direct Premier League rival, via a release clause no less, suggests their backroom compensation structure may need updating.

An official announcement hasn’t landed yet, but the expectation across the industry is that confirmation is imminent.