Chelsea are set to part ways with sporting director Laurence Stewart by mutual consent, with the change expected to form part of a wider evolution of the club’s football leadership structure.
Stewart, 40, joined Chelsea in 2022 after working as Monaco’s technical director and initially took up a technical director role at Stamford Bridge. He later became co-sporting director alongside Paul Winstanley.
According to reports, Stewart’s departure is being viewed internally as a planned adjustment to Chelsea’s sporting model rather than the result of a disagreement. He is understood to be leaving on good terms as he considers his next opportunity.
Chelsea are not currently expected to appoint a direct replacement. Instead, Winstanley will work more closely with Joe Shields and Sam Jewell, who are set to take on greater responsibility in areas including recruitment, player identification and squad planning.
Dave Fallows will also remain involved within the club’s sporting leadership structure in an advisory capacity.
Stewart’s responsibilities at Chelsea have included budget planning, football philosophy and working alongside the club’s data and analytics department. His exit means some of those duties will now be absorbed into the existing structure.
The change comes as Chelsea continue to reshape their football operation under manager Xabi Alonso, with the club placing greater emphasis on integrating data, recruitment and squad planning.
There is currently no indication that Stewart’s departure is connected to the recent changes in Chelsea’s ownership structure. Instead, the move is being presented as part of the club’s ongoing attempt to streamline its sporting department.
Chelsea’s leadership will now move forward with a more concentrated structure involving Winstanley, Shields and Jewell, while Stewart prepares for the next chapter of his career.