Chelsea's new director of global recruitment Sam Jewell begins work after Brighton exit | OneFootball

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Chelsea’s new director of global recruitment Sam Jewell has begun work after a period of gardening leave at Brighton.

The 34-year-old joins a sizeable recruitment team at Cobham ahead of the summer transfer window, having become the latest staff member to move from the south coast to west London.

Jewell, the son of former Wigan and Bradford manager Paul Jewell, agreed his move in February but has had to wait three months before arriving at Stamford Bridge.

It was announced that he would take a “senior recruitment role” but his job title suggests a role operating across the proposed multi-club BlueCo group, already featuring Ligue 1 side Strasbourg after a takeover last summer.

Jewell began working for Brighton in 2016 as recruitment manager for the Under-21s before gaining promotion to emerging talent manager in 2019 and then as head of recruitment in 2022.

He will report to co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, who oversee the club’s entire football operation, the men’s first team, women’s teams and academy teams.

Joe Shields is also a significant figure as the director of recruitment and talent. Loan manager Josh Marsh has also started working since moving from Swansea City.

Chelsea have recruited heavily from Brighton since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital's takeover. Graham Potter and his coaching staff were hired from the club alongside Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Robert Sanchez for a combined total of well over £200million.

Chelsea are currently in talks to sign £52m-rated Palmieras winger Estevao Willian, 17, and are believed to be targeting a striker, left-back and centre-back this summer.