All the latest transfer news and gossip for Brighton and Hove Albion and across the Premier League
Ex-Brighton men Paul Winstanley and Sam Jewell will take on greater responsibility as Chelsea’s co-sporting director Laurence Stewart is set to leave the club by mutual consent, according to reports.
Stewart is understood to be departing in the near future after almost four years at Stamford Bridge.
The 40-year-old joined Chelsea, initially as technical director, from Monaco in October 2022 and was appointed co-sporting director alongside former Brighton man Paul Winstanley in February 2023.
His responsibilities have included player identification, negotiations and squad planning.
Reports say the decision was reached following amicable discussions and was not the result of an internal falling-out.
Stewart’s departure is understood to form part of an evolution of Chelsea’s sporting and recruitment structure.
Stewart’s role absorbed by Winstanley and Jewell
The Premier League club are not expected to recruit a like-for-like replacement and many of his responsibilities will be absorbed into the roles of co-director of recruitment and talent Joe Shields and director of global recruitment Sam Jewell, former ly of Brighton and Hove Albion.
Winstanley will continue working closely with Shields and Jewell, while former Liverpool sporting director Dave Fallows is also part of Chelsea’s sporting leadership in an advisory capacity.
Before joining Monaco, Stewart was the global head of scouting at Red Bull Soccer International.
Earlier in his career, he was the head of performance analysis at Manchester City, senior recruitment coordinator at Everton, and a performance analyst with England at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Stewart joined Chelsea during the ownership of BlueCo and is contracted until 2031.
Reports say his departure is unrelated to Todd Boehly and Mark Walter selling their stakes in the club last month.
Stewart is expected to remain around the club in the coming weeks and could still attend matches before his exit.