Christopher Vivell is one of the candidates to work as transfers director at Ajax this summer, it was reported. Football International out this week. The name of the only 37-year-old German has already been mentioned 'many times' in the Johan Cruijff ArenA, although nothing has yet been definitively decided regarding his appointment. Who is actually this young and ambitious German, who is credited as the discoverer of Erling Braut Haaland?

Vivell, born in Karlsruhe on December 15, 1986, spent several years as a player in the lower regions of German football. The attacker soon realized that a great career was not possible and therefore focused on obtaining the necessary diplomas in the field of sports. Vivell took his first steps in the professional environment in 2010 at the modest TSG Hoffenheim, where he provided scouting and video analysis for the youth department. Promotion soon followed to the position of scout and match analyst for the first team die Kraichgauer.

Discoverer Haaland

Vivell impressed in Hoffenheim and therefore quickly appeared on the radar of the Red Bull group. Red Bull Salzburg entrusted full scouting to him in mid-2015, after which technical coordination was quickly added to his duties. Vivell was never officially responsible for transfers, but many see him as the discoverer of Haaland, who emerged as a goal machine at a young age at Norwegian Molde FK. In addition, the then relatively unknown Dayot Upamecano, Takumi Minamino, Naby Keïta, Karim Adeyemi and Patson Daka found their way to the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg.

Vivell is seen as the discoverer of Haaland.

Haaland, Upamecano and Keita, among others, developed rapidly in the Austrian Bundesliga and exchanged Salzburg for sister club RB Leipzig, a step that Vivell also made in the summer of 2020. The director, linked to Ajax, played an important role in his debut year as technical final responsibility. in signing Dominik Szoboszlai (sold to Liverpool for 70 million in 2023). Vivell only really became an important voice in incoming transfers when sporting director Markus Krösche, with whom he worked intensively, opted for a new challenge at Eintracht Frankfurt in 2021.

Million dollar deals

Vivell also showed in Leipzig that he has a nose for talent, although it also helped that the transfer budget in East Germany was on the very generous side. A record amount of 36.8 million euros was paid for Josko Gvardiol, who was only 19 at the time, a record that is now held by former Vitesse player Loïs Openda (38.5 million). The Croatian defender grew those Roten Bullen into a mainstay of the outside category and it was therefore no surprise that the top European clubs were lining up for him. Manchester City was willing to pay no less than 90 million euros, which instantly made the man the most expensive departing player.

Josko Gvardiol is the most expensive outgoing transfer from RB Leipzig ever.

In addition to Gvardiol, there were more high-profile transfers worth millions in Vivell's early period as 'transfer guru' of the wealthy and very ambitious Leipzig. Upamecano moved to Bayern Munich for 42.5 million euros and fellow defender Ibrahima Konaté was picked up by Liverpool for 40 million euros. On the other hand, Vivell was quick to sign up-and-coming talents Mohamed Simakan and Benjamin Henrichs (both for 15 million euros) from Racing Strasbourg and AS Monaco from Ligue 1 respectively.

Brobbey

Vivell also did business in the Eredivisie during his East German period. When Ajax and Brian Brobbey were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension in the spring of 2021, the transfer expert struck hard. The attacker took advantage of his transfer-free status and signed a four-year contract in Leipzig. After a fruitless year in which he did not score a single time, Brobbey returned to his old home at Ajax, which had more than 16 million euros left over for the renewed collaboration with the young striker. That amount can even rise to almost 20 million euros due to various bonuses.

RB Leipzig signed Brobbey for free and sold him for almost 20 million euros.

Setbacks

Not everything Vivell touched turned into gold. André Silva made a big impression at Eintracht Frankfurt, which prompted Leipzig to pay 23 million euros for the Portuguese attacker in mid-2021. Silva never managed to convince and is now playing on a rental basis for Real Sociedad, which can take him over permanently this summer. The same applies to Timo Werner, for whom Chelsea paid more than 50 million euros in 2020. The striker returned to Leipzig after 2 disappointing years in West London for 20 million euros, more than thirty million euros less than the original sale amount. Werner has been wearing the Tottenham Hotspur shirt since this season and can move permanently to North London in a few months for 15 million euros.

Chelsea

Vivell's good work in Leipzig was noticed by Chelsea and in December 2022 his second adventure outside Germany began. “Chelsea is building the most exciting project in the world,” Vivell said upon his appointment. However, those words did not match the reality at Stamford Bridge, where chaotic scenes have unfolded since the arrival of American billionaire Todd Boehly as the new owner. Manager Thomas Tuchel delivered Chelsea the second Champions League cup in club history in 2021, but had to leave the field more than a year later after a series of poor results.

Vivell had little say at Chelsea under Boehly.

Boehly wanted to return to the top of England and Europe as quickly as possible with Graham Potter, now also dismissed, as the new manager. In that context, the extremely wealthy American spent no less than 330 million euros on new players, an insane amount for a winter transfer period. The most notable deal was that involving Enzo Fernández. The Argentinian midfielder was signed for a record amount of 121 million euros the Blues. Despite all financial efforts, Chelsea fell into a sporting crisis and the turbulent season ended in twelve place. Sky-high ambitions, but not even a ticket for European football.

Power struggle

In the meantime, Vivell increasingly faded into the background at Chelsea. In addition to the German, Boehly also brought in Laurence Stewart (AS Monaco), Paul Winstanley (Brighton & Hove Albion) and Joe Shields (Southampton) for the football technical part. What followed was an unclear structure and friction over the various responsibilities and decision-making powers within the management. “He came to Chelsea at a very chaotic and difficult time,” British journalist and Chelsea follower Nizaar Kinsella said last October at the request of SPOX and GOAL back to Vivell's short-lived adventure in London.

“And what also played a role: Vivell was the only non-Englishman. He was highly respected by the players and advisors. But the other directors gained more and more power and confidence from the owners. Ultimately, Vivell did not have much work to do at Chelsea,” said Kinsella. Vivell signed Christopher Nkunku for 60 million euros from his old employer Leipzig last summer, one of his few achievements at Stamford Bridge. Boehly and associates overhauled the organization in mid-2023 and informed Vivell that his presence was no longer wanted.

Chelsea paid 121 million for Enzo Fernández shortly after Vivell's arrival.

Clubless

Vivell has been waiting for a new offer from the football industry ever since. Six months ago, he was linked several times to Bayern, where his good friend Christoph Freund, also with a past at the Red Bull group, has been in charge as technical director since September 1. The interest from Munich never became concrete and in the meantime Max Eberl, from RB Leipzig, has been appointed to manage technical matters from the board. It now remains to be seen whether Ajax will dare to do it again with a German director of transfer affairs after Sven Mislintat.

More sports news