Chelsea have added set-piece specialist Austin MacPhee to their coaching staff, poaching him from Aston Villa, according to BBC News. The 46-year-old Scot has already linked up with the squad on their pre-season tour of Hong Kong following the switch.
MacPhee, highly regarded for his work on dead-ball routines, moved to Stamford Bridge after Chelsea triggered a release clause in his Villa contract, though the exact fee remains undisclosed. BBC News reports that other Premier League clubs, as well as sides in Saudi Arabia, had also been keen on securing his services before Chelsea moved to complete the deal.
His arrival underlines the growing importance top-flight clubs are placing on specialist coaching roles, with set-piece expertise increasingly seen as a way to gain a competitive edge in tight matches.