Bayer Leverkusen chief scout Laurent Busser has joined Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich, kicker has reported.
Busser, 45, becomes the fourth backroom staff member to move from Leverkusen to Munich in recent years.
“It’s a pity, but there’s no bad blood,” Leverkusen squad manager Jonas Boldt told kicker. “Laurent Busser always gave his all for Bayer.”
Busser’s successes include 20-year-old Jamaica international Leon Bailey, signed for €13.5 million from Genk, who has six goals and four assists this season.
Sport Bild reported that Busser had flagged up the talents of French compatriots such as Ousmane Dembele and Kingsley Coman long before they reached the big time.
In 2014, Leverkusen’s Michael Reschke became Bayern technical director, while fitness trainer Holger Broich and Reschke’s assistant Marco Nepp also made the switch.
Reschke took up a similar role at Stuttgart in the summer, and Bayern have been looking to find a replacement after ending their pursuit of Sven Mislintat, who left Borussia Dortmund to become Arsenal’s head of recruitment in December.
Mark Lovell covers Bayern Munich for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter: @LovellLowdown.