Paul Winstanley joins Chelsea from Brighton after clubs agree compensation package
Paul Winstanley has left his position as Brighton & Hove Albion’s head of recruitment to take up a new role at Chelsea after the two Premier League clubs agreed on a significant compensation package.
Chelsea were given permission to speak to Winstanley last month, before he was then placed on gardening leave after formally resigning at Brighton after eight years with the south coast side.
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As The Athletic reported last month, Sam Jewell will be promoted to replace Winstanley as Brighton’s acting head of recruitment.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Chelsea and to continue working with Graham Potter and his team,” Winstanley said. “There is a real sense of excitement and momentum around the new ownership and this project. I’m looking forward to working with such an outstanding group of colleagues as the club moves into a new era.”
Brighton technical director David Weir said: “Paul has been an important part of our recruitment and overall progress in his time at the club, and naturally we did not want to see him leave.
“However, we understand that he sees this as an exciting opportunity to move into a more senior position and a different challenge at a new club.”
Winstanley has taken up the role of director of global talent and transfers at Chelsea, who have been revamping their recruitment set-up following the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover earlier this year.
Boehly has already made strides in bringing key personnel to Chelsea, with Joe Shields, Christopher Vivell and Laurence Stewart all having joined or expected to join the club.
Brighton deputy chairman and chief executive Paul Barber added: “We wish Paul well and thank him for all 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 we lose key staff, Sam Jewell will step up as acting head of recruitment, supported by our technical director David Weir.
“We have an excellent recruitment team and infrastructure in place, who will also give Sam 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 the 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 recruiter Kyle Macaulay.
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