The former German midfielder, who played for Real Madrid between 2010 and 2015, spent three of those years working under Mourinho during the Portuguese coach's first spell in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu. Mourinho has now returned to Real Madrid for a second stint, having signed a contract through to 2029.
According to OKDIARIO, Khedira will take up a role as one of Mourinho's assistants for the 2026-27 season, occupying a position that mirrors the one held by Aitor Karanka during Mourinho's first spell at the club between 2010 and 2013.
While officially listed as a more junior member of the coaching staff, Khedira's role is expected to function as a bridge between Mourinho's incoming Portuguese staff and the existing Real Madrid dressing room, drawing on his knowledge of the club's culture and his relationships with current and former team-mates.
Khedira retired from professional football in 2021 following a brief spell at Hertha Berlin, after leaving Real Madrid for Juventus in 2015. During his five years in the Spanish capital, he won the Champions League, LaLiga, two Copa del Rey titles, the Club World Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the European Super Cup.
His arrival at Real Madrid in 2010 came directly at Mourinho's request, with the manager personally convincing him to leave VfB Stuttgart for the move to Spain. Khedira has previously described that decision as transformative for his career, crediting Mourinho with shaping his understanding of leadership both on and off the pitch.
Mourinho's coaching staff for his second spell at Real Madrid is reported to blend youth with experience, built around a model in which all members contribute ideas during decision-making, even as final calls remain with the head coach himself.
Among those already confirmed as part of the setup are Pedro Machado and Joao Tralhao, two of Mourinho's most trusted long-term collaborators, fitness coach Antonio Dias, analyst Roberto Merella and goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos. Khedira's addition would bring a former player with first-hand experience of Real Madrid's dressing room culture into that mix.
Mourinho is set to formally join Real Madrid on July 13th, the date pre-season training begins for players not involved in the World Cup. With Khedira's role still to be confirmed officially by the club, his potential return represents one of several appointments shaping what Mourinho's second era at the Santiago Bernabeu will look like, both on the training pitch and in the dressing room he will need to win over quickly.