According to a report by Chelsea Chronicles on Saturday, October 31, 2026, Chelsea have appointed former Celtic head of scouting Mark Lawwell as a senior scout as the club step up preparations for the January transfer window under manager Xabi Alonso.

The 42-year-old has already started working at Stamford Bridge and will be tasked with identifying potential signings who could strengthen Alonso's squad.

Lawwell arrives with considerable recruitment experience, having spent almost a decade at Manchester City, where he worked as head of international relations and scouting. His responsibilities also included the club's sister team, Yokohama F Marinos.

The Scottish recruitment specialist previously worked alongside Ange Postecoglou in Japan before joining the Australian at Celtic in July 2022.

His appointment represents another addition to Chelsea's recruitment department as the club continue efforts to identify players capable of improving the squad.

According to The Sun, Lawwell has already taken up his new role, with his main responsibility being to identify promising players for Alonso's team.

During his time at Celtic, he was involved in bringing in several players who made important contributions, including Alistair Johnston and Aaron Mooy. However, some of his recruitment decisions failed to deliver the expected results.

Chelsea will hope his experience can help the club make effective transfer decisions in the coming windows, particularly as several areas of the squad require attention.

Central midfield and central defence are among the positions that could be prioritised when the January transfer window opens.

The Blues have reportedly identified Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott as one of their leading targets, with the 22-year-old valued at around £90 million.

Scott could offer additional quality alongside Moises Caicedo in midfield, although Chelsea are expected to face competition from other Premier League clubs for his signature.

Defensive reinforcements could also become a priority following Maxence Lacroix's hamstring injury, which is expected to keep him out for approximately two months.

Wesley Fofana's injury record has further raised concerns about Chelsea's defensive depth, making the search for a reliable centre-back increasingly important.