Latest news with #EduGaspar
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trusted Arsenal executive decides to leave
Jason Ayto's name rarely made headlines, but inside Arsenal, his influence ran deep. Photo via Getty Images Jason Ayto has left the club, ending a decade-long tenure that saw him rise from scout to interim sporting director. Advertisement His exit, communicated internally on Friday and reported by both the BBC and The Athletic, comes just weeks after the club finalised the appointment of Andrea Berta as permanent successor to Edu Gaspar. It appears to be his decision, leaving to 'further his career and pursue other opportunities'. Ayto, 39, was Edu's 'right-hand man' and was promoted to interim sporting director following Edu's departure in November. According to the reports above, his influence extended across the men's, women's and academy operations, overseeing the coordination of scouting, recruitment strategy, and increasingly, high-level transfer negotiations. Despite being considered a strong candidate to take the job full-time, the club opted to appoint Berta, formerly of Atlético Madrid, in April. Advertisement Ayto will now serve a period of gardening leave before pursuing other opportunities. His fingerprints are on much of Arsenal's recent transfer business. He was instrumental in discussions over deals for Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino, and Martin Zubimendi, the latter expected to arrive from Real Sociedad this summer.
New York Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Jason Ayto leaves Arsenal after interim spell as sporting director
Jason Ayto has departed Arsenal, where he had been interim sporting director earlier this season. Ayto was promoted to the role on an interim basis after Edu Gaspar resigned from his position in November, having previously been the Brazilian's assistant. In March, Arsenal appointed Andrea Berta to be Edu's permanent successor in the position with Ayto now leaving the club. Advertisement 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. 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 Edu departed, Ayto stepped up as interim sporting director and was part of Arsenal's football leadership team which flew to Los Angeles during the November international break for strategic discussions with the Kroenkes. Since then, he had taken up the baton in talks over the potential signing of Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi. He also led Arsenal's search for a striker in January but ultimately was part of the club's decision to abstain from the market that month. Manager Mikel Arteta has talked up Ayto's abilities. Speaking in November, he said: 'Very good, Jason and all the team. Edu and I probably got a lot of the praise, but the work behind it is done by this guy and Jason has been phenomenal. 'It is not easy to wake up one day and having to move to a different office and do a different job, like it was for the team. 'But again, the spirit, how people react, how they are willing to (say): 'Okay, that's it, that's the situation, let's move forward', with that ambition, and as well with that determination and that enthusiasm, that's something great. Jason has been great on that.' (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
