Mark Lawwell lands top Chelsea role as former Celtic scouting chief links up with Xabi Alonso

Former Celtic recruitment chief Mark Lawwell has joined Chelsea as a senior scout to work with manager Xabi Alonso.

Mark Lawwell, 42, has taken up a senior scout role at Chelsea after joining the Premier League club earlier this month. The former Celtic recruitment chief will work closely with manager Xabi Alonso as the club looks to strengthen its squad.

Lawwell, son of former Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, spent time at Celtic under Ange Postecoglu, where he oversaw recruitment including signings of Alistair Johnston, Oh Hyeon-gyu, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki, Yang Hyun-jun, Paulo Bernardo and Alexander Bernabei. He resigned from Celtic after the January 2024 transfer window, having approved a £3m deal for German winger Nicolas Kuhn, who later moved to Serie A side Como for over £16m.

After taking two years away from football following his departure from Celtic, Lawwell has now returned to the game in a prominent scouting position at Stamford Bridge.