Sources: Chelsea new arrival to join on 1 February after agreement is struck
Joe Shields is set to take up his recruitment role at Chelsea in February, sources have told Football Insider.
The Premier League giants confirmed the appointment of Shields in the newly-created position of co-director of recruitment and talent at Stamford Bridge in October but said negotiations were ongoing over his arrival date.
Football Insider has now learned that Chelsea have an agreement with Southampton that the highly regarded talent-spotter will join on 1 February as soon as the January transfer window shuts.
The Blues have been forced to wait for Shields to start work while he fulfils his obligations at Southampton.
Chelsea are completely revamping their recruitment operation under new owner Todd Boehly and have already brought in former Brighton head of recruitment Paul Winstanley in the role of director of global talent and transfers.
They are also working on a deal to bring in a technical director who will oversee all aspects of the club's football operation.
Shields was targeted by Chelsea just four months following his arrival at Southampton from Manchester City.
He spent nine years at the Etihad working in City’s scouting and recruitment department, where he built a strong reputation for signing youth-team players who progressed into the first team and also generated good fees.
The experienced scout has also previously worked at Crystal Palace and Fulham in similar roles.