Brighton and Hove Albion have officially announced their separation from technical director David Weir, coinciding with Manchester United’s ongoing evaluation of a proposed approach for Carlos Baleba.
Weir, who has previously contributed to the backroom teams at Rangers, Aston Villa, and Brentford, joined the Seagulls in 2018 as a loan manager. After serving in that capacity for four years, the former Scotland international moved to the role of technical assistant for nearly six months before ultimately taking on the position of technical director.
His main duties at the club involved overseeing player recruitment, and he was instrumental in Brighton’s acquisition of Baleba in 2023. However, Brighton owner Tony Bloom indicated in a statement that the Premier League club is now pursuing a new direction.
“David has served our club well, but we now wish to refresh our technical area with new leadership and direction,” Bloom said. “I’d like to thank David for everything he has done for us, and to wish him well for the future.”
Brighton CEO Paul Barber also expressed his sentiments: “I have greatly enjoyed working with David over these past eight years, and have appreciated his support and hard work throughout this period. I wish David all the best going forward.”
Weir’s departure signifies a notable shift in Brighton’s recruitment division, which may influence United’s approach to acquiring Baleba for Old Trafford.
Currently, there are no signs that Weir’s exit will disrupt the Reds’ intentions, but it might lead the Seagulls to adopt a more stringent position in transfer discussions.
During the summer transfer period, United were quoted an astonishing £100 million for Baleba, a sum that seemed unimaginable considering their previous expenditures on players.
The Manchester Evening News has reported that United were not fazed by the prospect of missing out on the 21-year-old, as they were willing to wait until 2026 to finalize a deal if required.
Up to this point in the season, Baleba has continued to progress, participating in all three Premier League matches prior to the international break. Additionally, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson have been associated with United in recent weeks as they start to strategize for the January transfer window and beyond.
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