Chelsea have hired another scout from Brighton & Hove Albion to join their academy.
i understands highly-rated scout John Tweedy, who was the wingers and number 10 role scouting manager at the south coast club, is joining Chelsea to add to the significant number of ex-Brighton recruitment staff at Stamford Bridge.
Tweedy has been at Brighton since March 2023 but previously worked as head of north of England and Scotland recruitment at Wolves.
Before that he was the head of academy recruitment at Sunderland and has also worked in a scouting role for Manchester United.
His appointment represents a further bolstering of Chelsea’s academy recruitment department and also gives them an added presence in the north east of England. The Blues signed promising England under-18 midfielder Ollie Harrison from Newcastle United last year.
Tweedy was understood to be instrumental in Brighton signing promising 18-year-old midfielder Josh Robertson from Sunderland back in January.
Robertson signed a contract until 2027 after being spotted playing for Sunderland’s under-21 side last year.
i understands that Brighton will not be replacing the role vacated by Tweedy.
Chelsea’s ownership group have leant heavily on the Seagulls in their behind-the-scenes restructure, taking Brighton’s head of recruitment Sam Jewell as director of global recruitment earlier this year in a role that sees him oversee transfers at Stamford Bridge and fellow Blueco club Strasbourg.
Paul Winstanley also joined from Brighton as director of global talent and transfers in 2022 after playing a key role in turning the club into a recruitment powerhouse.
Efforts to replicate the Brighton model even extended to appointing Graham Potter and signing Moises Caicedo, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and right-back Marc Cucurella.
There has been heavy investment in executives since Clearlake Capital took over two years ago but the unprecedented overhaul of club structures is yet to deliver anything resembling a coherent strategy.
They signed 11 players this summer with a heavy emphasis on youth. Six of the additions were under the age of 20 and have been signed with a desire to turn them into elite players in the future – but that policy was probably overshadowed by the opportunistic captures of forward Jadon Sancho and former Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix.
A summer of frantic business also saw 40 players depart Stamford Bridge and more are set to leave in the coming days. Forward David Datro Fofana is close to a loan move to Turkish side Goztepe SK in a switch that includes an option to buy for £20m and a recall clause in January.
Midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka – signed from Aston Villa for £15m two years ago – could also depart with transfer windows in Turkey and Greece still open. It’s understood the club will only contemplate a permanent deal for the 20-year-old.
Given the extent of Chelsea’s activity in the transfer market, it’s unsurprising that new boss Enzo Maresca has made a mixed start to life in west London.
Chelsea have lost to Manchester City before beating Wolves and then drawing with Crystal Palace. They are away at Bournemouth in Saturday’s late game.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/RX9QUCO
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