Mark Lawwell is back in football after being appointed as a senior scout in Chelsea’s first-team scouting and recruitment department, as the Premier League club sharpen its plans for upcoming transfer windows.
Lawwell, formerly Celtic’s head of scouting and recruitment and son of former Celtic supremo Peter Lawwell, has joined the Blues’ scouting setup and has already begun working at Stamford Bridge. His brief is to help identify targets for head coach Xabi Alonso as Chelsea assess options for the winter window.
The appointment marks a return to frontline recruitment for Lawwell after more than two years away from the game following his departure from Celtic.
Lawwell spent a decade with City Football Group, including a period as the organisation’s head of scouting and recruitment. During that time, he worked closely with Ange Postecoglou at Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan before following the Australian to Celtic.
Lawwell stepped down from his Celtic role after the January 2024 transfer window, following criticism over Celtic’s transfer dealings during his time.
Now, after two-and-a-half years out of the sport, he has landed a senior role with the Stamford Bridge side, placing him at the centre of Chelsea’s search for the next wave of first-team talent.