Arsenal’s assistant sporting director Jason Ayto has left the club.
Ayto was promoted to the sporting director role on an interim basis after Edu Gaspar resigned from his position in November, having previously been the Brazilian’s assistant.
Ayto was a strong candidate in the process to be appointed to the role on a permanent basis but, in March, Arsenal appointed Andrea Berta to be Edu’s successor.
A former scout, Ayto had been with Arsenal for a decade and rose through the ranks to become Edu’s right-hand man, leading an overhaul and modernisation of the club’s recruitment department.
He will now serve a period of gardening leave and will leave the club in order to further his career and pursue other opportunities.
When Edu was promoted to become Arsenal’s first-ever sporting director in November 2022, he asked for Ayto to be appointed assistant sporting director.
The 39-year-old served an expansive apprenticeship under Edu, working across the men’s first team, women’s team and academy. He led the co-ordination of scouting and recruitment, and as time went by has been increasingly involved in negotiations over transfers and contracts. In the summer of 2024, he was heavily involved in discussions over the signings of both Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino.
When…
