Chelsea Owners Add Brighton Veteran Weir to Strasbourg as Talent Drain Intensifies

Chelsea's ownership group, BlueCo, has appointed former Brighton & Hove Albion technical director David Weir as the sporting director of their French sister club Strasbourg, starting November 1. This move is part of a broader trend of Chelsea and BlueCo recruiting players and staff from Brighton, including notable figures like Graham Potter and several players such as Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo. The frequent transfers have caused frustration among Brighton supporters, who feel their club is being used as a feeder club for Chelsea and its affiliated teams. Despite the criticism, Weir expressed enthusiasm about his new role and aims to collaborate closely with Strasbourg's manager to improve the team's prospects. Brighton's chairman Tony Bloom acknowledged Weir's contributions and indicated a desire to refresh the club's technical leadership. This ongoing pattern reflects BlueCo's strategic efforts to strengthen Chelsea's network by integrating talent from Brighton into their broader football operations.