Christopher Vivell’s permanent appointment as Manchester United’s director of recruitment marks a significant step in the club’s ongoing efforts to overhaul its footballing structure.
The 38-year-old German, who has built a reputation as one of Europe’s shrewdest talent evaluators, initially joined the club in the summer of 2024 on a short-term contract. His transition to a permanent role, confirmed on February 26, 2025, reflects the confidence Manchester United’s leadership has in his ability to reshape the club’s approach to player acquisition and development.
Vivell’s career trajectory offers insight into why he was chosen for this role. Before arriving at Old Trafford, he held prominent positions at several top European clubs. Most recently, he served as technical director at Chelsea from December 2022 until July 2023, a stint that ended abruptly due to reported differences in vision with the club’s ownership.
Prior to that, he spent significant time within the Red Bull football ecosystem, notably as head of scouting and sport coordinator at RB Leipzig from 2018 to 2020. There, he played a key role in identifying and signing talents like Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté, and Christopher Nkunku—players who have since become stars across Europe. His earlier work at RB Salzburg further honed his expertise in spotting young prospects and integrating them into competitive first-team environments.
At Manchester United, Vivell’s mandate is clear: enhance the recruitment of young players while overseeing the club’s global scouting network. This focus aligns with the broader strategy under INEOS ownership, which took control of football operations following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority stake acquisition in February 2024.
The club has struggled with inconsistent recruitment in recent years, with high-profile signings like Antony and Casemiro yielding mixed results. Vivell’s arrival signals a shift toward a more systematic, youth-oriented approach, reminiscent of the club’s successful academy-to-first-team pipeline during the Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Unlike Dan Ashworth, who departed his role as sporting director in late 2024 after less than six months, Vivell is not positioned as the overarching architect of United’s footballing operations. Ashworth’s exit, reportedly due to a mismatch with INEOS’s expectations, left a void that has seen technical director Jason Wilcox step into a more prominent role.
Vivell now reports directly to Wilcox, who has assumed greater responsibility for the club’s day-to-day footballing decisions. This structure suggests a collaborative dynamic, with Vivell tasked with executing a recruitment strategy that complements Wilcox’s broader technical oversight.
Vivell’s permanent deal, reportedly a multi-year contract, comes with an interesting twist: he has accepted reduced wages compared to his initial short-term agreement. This move could indicate a long-term commitment to proving his worth at United, where success could unlock future rewards. His immediate priorities include strengthening the scouting infrastructure, which has been criticized for lagging behind rivals like Manchester City and Liverpool.
Posts on X from earlier in 2025 suggest that fans are cautiously optimistic, with some noting his track record at Leipzig as evidence of his potential impact.
The German’s expertise in youth recruitment will be tested quickly. Manchester United’s academy, while historically prolific, has faced challenges in consistently producing first-team-ready talents in recent years. Players like Kobbie Mainoo, who broke through in the 2023-24 season, are exceptions rather than the norm.
Vivell’s experience in nurturing emerging talent—evidenced by his work with Nkunku, who later thrived at Chelsea—could help bridge this gap. Additionally, his global network, developed through years at Red Bull and Chelsea, positions him to identify prospects from untapped markets, an area where United has often been outmaneuvered by competitors.
This appointment also reflects a broader trend in football, where clubs increasingly rely on specialized roles to navigate the complexities of the modern transfer market. Vivell’s role is distinct yet interconnected with Wilcox’s, ensuring recruitment aligns with the tactical and cultural vision set by manager Rúben Amorim, who took charge in November 2024. Amorim’s high-pressing, youth-friendly system could benefit directly from Vivell’s ability to pinpoint players suited to such demands.
While Vivell’s appointment has been met with approval from many quarters, challenges remain. Integrating his vision into a club with a historically chaotic recruitment process will require time and support from above.
Moreover, the pressure to deliver results at Manchester United—where fan expectations remain sky-high despite a decade of relative underachievement—will be intense. For now, his permanent role offers a fresh start, blending proven expertise with a clear mission to restore United’s reputation as a destination for the world’s best young talent.