Chelsea Sporting Director Laurence Stewart Departs Amid Club Leadership Evolution
Stewart's exit follows a period of change at the club, with leadership structure undergoing an 'evolution' post-Todd Boehly era.
Chelsea Football Club's sporting director, Laurence Stewart, is set to leave the club by mutual consent, according to reports. Stewart joined Chelsea from Monaco in 2022 and has worked alongside co-sporting director Paul Winstanley.
Sources insist that Stewart's departure is not due to any internal fallout but rather an 'evolution' of the club's sporting leadership structure. No departure date has yet been set, and Stewart may still attend upcoming matches, including the fixture against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge this Saturday. Stewart, who had a contract extending until 2031, is departing with the club's endorsement, marking a significant shift since Clearlake Capital assumed full control.
Following Stewart's departure, Winstanley will assume an expanded role, collaborating closely with Joe Shields and Sam Jewell. Dave Fallows, a former sporting director for Liverpool, is also part of the leadership team. These individuals will work in conjunction with Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso and report to Behdad Eghbali, who is now considered the primary decision-maker at the club following Todd Boehly's exit.
There are no current plans to recruit a direct replacement for Stewart, who is actively seeking new professional opportunities after his four-year tenure. Behdad Eghbali had previously indicated the need to 'tweak' the club's operational model to foster progress.
Shields and Jewell primarily oversee player recruitment and squad development. Jewell's responsibilities are global, encompassing the sister club Strasbourg, while Shields also manages the academy. They are expected to absorb Stewart's duties, which included collaboration with the data department. Stewart's prior experience includes roles as technical director at Monaco, global head of scouting for Red Bull Soccer International, and head of performance analysis at Manchester City. He and Winstanley had previously worked together as match analysts for Hull and Wigan approximately two decades ago, before reuniting at Chelsea. Their tenure included Chelsea's 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 Club World Cup final.