Paul Winstanley has left his role as head of recruitment at Brighton & Hove Albion to take on a new role at Chelsea after the two Premier League clubs agreed on a large pay package.
Chelsea were allowed to speak to Winstanley last month, before he was then put on gardening leave after officially resigning at Brighton after eight years with the South Coast.
As Athleticism reported last month, Sam Jewell will be promoted to replace Winstanley as Brighton’s interim recruitment manager.
“I am delighted to join Chelsea and continue to work with Graham Potter and his team,” Winstanley said. “There is a real sense of excitement and momentum around the new owner and this project. I look forward to working with such an exceptional group of colleagues as the club enters a new era.
Brighton technical director David Weir said: “Paul has been a big part of our recruitment and our overall progression during his time at the club, and naturally we didn’t want to see him leave.
“However, we understand that he sees this as an exciting opportunity to move up to a higher position and a different challenge at a new club.”
Winstanley has taken on the role of director of global talent and transfers at Chelsea, which revamped its recruitment structure following the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover earlier this year.
Boehly has already made progress bringing key personnel to Chelsea, with Joe Shields, Christopher Vivell and Laurence Stewart all having joined or planning to join the club.
Brighton vice-chairman and general manager Paul Barber added: “We wish Paul well and thank him for everything he has done during his time at the club. In line with our club’s policy of being prepared with immediate high quality cover in the event of the loss of key personnel, Sam Jewell will take over as interim Head of Recruitment, supported by our Technical Director David Weir.
“We have an excellent recruitment team and excellent infrastructure in place, which will also provide Sam with all the support and expertise he needs. So, while we are disappointed to lose Paul, we know we can absorb this change, as we move forward into the January transfer window.
Winstanley is the sixth member of Brighton staff to join head coach Graham Potter at Chelsea, along with his assistant Billy Reid, coaches Bjorn Hamberg and Bruno Saltor, goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts and player scout Kyle Macaulay.
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