Chelsea’s making a bold move to dominate set pieces by signing Austin MacPhee, the wizard behind Aston Villa’s deadly corners and free kicks, who’ll join Xabi Alonso’s staff for the 2026-27 season after triggering a release clause. With teams increasingly relying on dead-ball tactics — MacPhee helped Villa tie Arsenal for Europe’s top set-piece goals last year — his arrival signals a new era where specialists are becoming stars. His World Cup work with Portugal adds to his pedigree. Meanwhile, the Chelsea-Villa transfer window has sparked a mini-trade: Morgan Rogers heads to Chelsea for a record fee, while Garnacho heads back to Chelsea on loan from Villa. This isn’t just about players — it’s about strategy, and Chelsea is betting big on set pieces to win.

Listen in comfort:
Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn.

Advertise on DNN:
advertise@thednn.ai

This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai.

View sources & latest updates:
https://sources.thednn.ai/c5658fded88691e0

Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör The Daily News Now!. Innehållet i podden är skapat av The Daily News Now! och inte av, eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.