Chelsea sporting director Laurence Stewart is set to leave the club by mutual agreement as part of changes to the west London side’s sporting leadership structure.
Stewart is expected to depart in the near future, although he is understood to be leaving on good terms. Sam Jewell and Joe Shields will take on greater responsibility, with Chelsea not planning a direct replacement for Stewart.
Stewart joined Chelsea in 2022 and has played an influential role in the club’s transfer strategy. That recruitment policy has attracted considerable scrutiny amid the club’s heavy spending on highly rated young players.
Chelsea have also struggled to establish a settled team and have frequently changed managers in recent years, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the club’s sporting direction.
Further change to Chelsea’s leadership structure
The move comes shortly after Todd Boehly confirmed his departure from Chelsea. The American businessman had previously invested in the club alongside Behdad Eghbali and Clearlake Capital.
Stewart’s exit represents another significant adjustment at board level as Chelsea seek to reshape their sporting leadership. The club will now rely more heavily on Jewell and Shields as it continues to determine its future recruitment and management strategy.
Chelsea supporters will hope the changes can help the club recover from a difficult transition period since Roman Abramovich was forced to give up ownership.
