Chelsea have confirmed the arrival of Dave Fallows, with the former Liverpool recruitment specialist handed the title of sporting director of football development on a six-year deal.
In what is an unprecedented set-up within the Blues, they will now have a five-strong leadership team of sporting directors taking them forward, all contracted to the club until 2031.
It is headed up by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and supported by Joe Shields, sporting director of scouting and talent, and Sam Jewell, sporting director of global recruiting, as well as their newest addition in Fallows.