Dan Ashworth could be appointed by Arsenal next month | OneFootball

Dan Ashworth could be set to be appointed as the new Arsenal Sporting Director.

David Ornstein says that the former Newcastle United employee is one of a handful of contenders for the job.

He reports that Arsenal plan to make the appointment in March and are now coming to the end of their process in terms of whittling down candidates before offering the job to their final choice.

Amusingly, Dan Ashworth is free to take the job immediately, a big factor in his favour, due to Manchester United having paid £4m+ compensation to Ashworth after sacking him. This was on top of an even larger amount paid to Newcastle United in order for them to agree to cut his lengthy gardening leave.

If you go back three years to February 2022, Dan Ashworth was still a Brighton employee, on gardening leave as he waited to be able to move to Tyneside.

Incredible that since then Dan Ashworth has spent months more on gardening leave before he left Brighton, then joined Newcastle United, been on gardening leave once again for a lengthy time period, eventually joined Manchester United, sacked by Ratcliffe at Man U, now set to potentially join Arsenal, all within a three year time period.

David Ornstein writing for The Athletic – 27 February 2025:

‘Arsenal plan to appoint a new sporting director next month and are in the process of whittling down candidates before their final decision is reached.

The position has been vacant since Edu Gaspar’s resignation on November 4, which saw his deputy Jason Ayto promoted on an interim basis.

Ayto remains an option for the full-time post and is joined by the likes of Dan Ashworth, Andrea Berta, Roberto Olabe and Thiago Scuro among those to have been discussed internally or held talks.

As one of the most experienced sporting directors in the country, Ashworth’s name was expected to be involved as soon as Edu departed. But having enjoyed a seamless rise across 15 years in the executive sphere of English football, the last 12 months have been tumultuous.

Following prolonged negotiations, Manchester United agreed a compensation package with Newcastle United for him to lead INEOS’ revolution at Old Trafford from July 2024. Newcastle fought to keep him as he had only been there for two years, having also been appointed to lead the grand plans of their incoming Saudi Arabian investors. During his time, they had several major hits in the transfer market including Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, who helped them qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.