Chelsea confirmed the appointment of Paul Winstanley as Director of Global Talent and Transfers on Tuesday.

Winstanley arrives at Stamford Bridge after eight years with Brighton & Hove Albion, initially as talent identification manager and then as head of recruitment. Winstanley played a major role as Brighton built a reputation for finding and developing talent. 

Winstanley has admitted the opportunity to join Chelsea was too great to turn down.

He said: “It’s not been an easy decision and it has taken me some time, but the opportunity was too great to turn down and is a personal challenge I want to take up.

“While I had no desire to leave Brighton, as the club has been amazing to me, this was something I had to pursue.”