Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Graham Potter as the club’s new manager following on from the sacking of Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel was relieved of his duties following an inconsistent start to the 2022/23 season, the 1-0 shock loss to Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night already the third of the campaign.
The decision came just days after the closure of the summer transfer window, a window in which Chelsea have spent over £250 million.
The club have now moved swiftly to appoint his replacement, with Brighton’s Graham Potter quickly emerging as the club’s number one target.
The Seagulls granted permission for Chelsea to hold talks with the 47-year-old on Wednesday, and have now confirmed his appointment ahead of this weekend’s game against Fulham, saying he will bring ‘progressive football and innovative coaching to the club’.
“Chelsea Football Club is delighted to welcome Graham Potter as our new Head Coach, joining us on a five-year contract to bring his progressive football and innovative coaching to the Club,” a statement reads.
“Potter is one of the most exciting coaches in the game, starting his journey in Sweden before bringing his talents to the English game over the past four seasons.
“The 47-year-old is educated to degree level in disciplines beyond sport and has combined these experiences to forge a collaborative, forward-thinking approach while developing attacking and winning football.”
As for the new Chelsea boss, he said: “I am incredibly proud and excited to represent Chelsea FC, this fantastic football club. I am very excited to partner with Chelsea’s new ownership group and look forward to meeting and working with the exciting group of players and to develop a team and culture that our amazing fans can be proud of. I would also like to place my sincere thanks to Brighton & Hove Albion for allowing me this opportunity and in particular Tony Bloom and all the players, staff and supporters for their continued support during my time at the club.”
