Swansea City have confirmed the appointment of Ben Stevens as the club's new sporting director, ending a lengthy search that began after the departure of director of football Richard Montague last September.
Stevens arrives from Crystal Palace, where he served as assistant sporting director and previously spent a decade as the Premier League side's head of performance and recruitment analysis. The 20-year recruitment and analysis veteran is set to officially take up his post on 10 July, ahead of the 2026-27 Championship campaign.
A Stellar Track Record at Palace
Stevens' decade-long tenure at Selhurst Park coincided with a period of sustained top-flight stability and European qualification for the Eagles. Working initially under former sporting director Dougie Freedman, he played a key role in shaping Palace's data-driven recruitment model.
When Freedman departed for Saudi Arabian club Al-Diriyah last year, Stevens stepped into the assistant sporting director role and helped steer the club through the transition. His fingerprints were on several key signings that propelled Palace to a top-half finish and their best-ever Premier League points tally in 2025-26.
"Having worked in a number of roles at a variety of clubs over the last 20 years, I believe it gives me the necessary attributes to help maximise the club's potential," Stevens said.
"I believe in the project at Swansea City and the club has huge potential. I am excited at the prospect of bringing everyone together on this journey to help us achieve future success."
Swansea's Long Search Ends
The Swans have been without a senior football executive since Richard Montague's brief seven-month stint ended abruptly last September. Former head of recruitment and analytics Adam Worth then left in April, leaving a void in the club's technical leadership. Chief executive Tom Gorringe made it clear that the club would only hire if the right candidate came along.
"The club only planned on making an appointment of this nature if we felt a candidate who was the correct fit for Swansea City was available, and we firmly believe Ben possesses the qualities we were looking for," Gorringe said.
"He has helped Crystal Palace enjoy the most successful period in their history and, out of respect for Ben and Palace, we have chosen to formally announce his appointment following the conclusion of their season and their European success."
What Stevens Brings to SA1
Stevens inherits a Swansea City side that finished 11th in the Championship last term, well adrift of the play-off places. His remit will be to modernise the club's recruitment structure and instil a cohesive philosophy across all age groups. The appointment signals owner investment group intent to recapture the identity that once made Swansea a Premier League mainstay.
With a background in performance analysis and a proven ability to identify undervalued talent, Stevens is expected to work closely with the first-team coaching staff to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion. Swansea fans will hope the new sporting director can replicate the success he helped deliver in south London.
Key Takeaways
- Ben Stevens joins Swansea City as sporting director after nine years at Crystal Palace.
- He was instrumental in Palace's data-led recruitment and their record-breaking top-flight campaign.
- Swansea had been without a senior football executive since September 2025.
- Stevens begins work on 10 July with a clear brief to overhaul recruitment.
- The appointment is seen as a major coup for a Championship side aiming to return to the Premier League.
Quick Facts
New Sporting Director: Ben Stevens
Previous Club: Crystal Palace
Start Date: 10 July 2026
Previous Role: Assistant Sporting Director
Swansea's 2025-26 Finish: 11th in the Championship
Replaces: Richard Montague (left September 2025)
