Chelsea‘s temporary sporting director Todd Boehly has resigned, 90min confirms, and his replacement hiring team is beginning to take shape.
After buying the team with Clearlake Capital, Boehly temporarily seized charge of the Blues‘ transfer strategy by titling himself the interim sports director while the search for a permanent hire for the position went on.
Since then, Chelsea has started to put together a new team with talent from all over the world. Paul Winstanley, who joined the squad from Brighton as director of global talent and transfers, will now work alongside Christopher Vivell, who has been named technical director, to handle the team’s transfer business.
Lawrence Stewart, who will begin working at Stamford Bridge after leaving Monaco next month, and Joe Shields, who was previously in charge of recruiting at Southampton and Manchester City, will shortly join the pair.
Boehly was always intended to step down from Chelsea’s transfer negotiations once a new board of directors had been appointed, and the co-owner is now confident that the new team can manage their business moving ahead.
When Benoit Badiashile moved from Monaco earlier this month, it was Vivell and Winstanley who were pictured with him. The pair will keep looking for reinforcements for the rest of the January transfer window.
With no option to buy back, Chelsea has verbally agreed to sign Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid. Chelsea is anticipated to be active over the next few weeks as they try to salvage something from Boehly’s rookie campaign.
The Blues’ top priorities include finding a replacement for the injured Reece James at right back. In addition, additional offensive reinforcements are anticipated after Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic were lost to injury for Chelsea.
