Chelsea's head of international scouting leaves club

Chelsea’s head of international scouting Scott MacLachlan has left the club after 11 years in pursuit of a new challenge.

High level directors Marina Granovskaia and Petr Cech have already departed Stamford Bridge in recent months in the wake of Todd Bohly’s takeover.

MacLachlan was another key member of the club’s structure under former owner Roman Abramovich, although the Daily Mail has reported that it was his plan to leave the club before the ownership saga began.

It is said that sanctions on Chelsea following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine also delayed MacLachlan’s exit from the club, but he did also agree to stay on for the duration of the summer to assist the club’s new owners navigate their first transfer window.

He now leaves Chelsea of his own accord with the blessing of Boehly and the new hierarchy.

Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey, Toby Cudworth and Harry Symeou bring you a live deadline day edition of Talking Transfers. The team welcome Daniel Childs and Julien Laurens to the show to discuss Chelsea's late window activity, Arsenal's pursuit of Douglas Luiz, Paris Saint-Germain's summer signings & much more! The show is also available on all audio platforms.

Chelsea are still without a new sporting director, with Boehly himself filling the role temporarily. Ex-Liverpool recruitment chief Michael Edwards was reported to have turned down the job in August.

With the new owners clearly ambitious and determined to put their own stamp on the club, the Blues spent £271m, which set a new Premier League record for most money in a single window.

Chelsea spent £50m or more on each of Raheem Sterling, Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana, with Fofana the most expensive new recruit at £70m. Kalidou Kouliably also cost close to £35m, while the Blues moved to bring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back to the Premier League from Barcelona. In total, 11 new players arrived, including the £2.7m loan arrival of Denis Zakaria.

Chelsea did also raise money by selling Timo Werner, Emerson and Billy Gilmour.

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