Chelsea have agreed a deal to hire Monaco technical director Laurence Stewart, 90min can confirm.

Blues co-owner Todd Boehly is in the process of reshuffling the club’s recruitment department and has already struck an agreement to hire Christopher Vivell, who is expected to join as technical director following his departure from RB Leipzig.

Joe Shields has also agreed to join as head of recruitment just months after taking a similar role with Southampton.

The next addition to the boardroom is expected to be Stewart, with sources confirming to 90min that the Monaco director has agreed the terms of a return to England.

Stewart began his career as Hull City’s head of performance analysis and then spent time with The FA, Manchester City and Everton, before a move to become RB Leipzig’s head of scouting in 2018. He was tasked with leading Red Bull’s global scouting network – something Boehly is keen to replicate at Chelsea.

A move to Monaco followed in 2020 where Stewart worked alongside sporting director Paul Mitchell, who is also of interest to Chelsea.

Stewart’s official title at Chelsea is not yet clear but he will be expected to work alongside the rest of Boehly’s boardroom hires as well as manager Graham Potter and his recruitment analyst Kyle Macauley.

---