Arsenal new director of football operations to start next month | OneFootball

Former Arsenal executive James King is set to return to the club to fill the role vacated by Richard Garlick, according to a report.

Richard Garlick with Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)

David Ornstein broke the news for The Athletic this week that James King is set to return to Arsenal as their director of football operations.

Richard Garlick was previously in the role, but he stepped up to become managing director after Vinai Venkatesham left. Garlick had continued to help out with football operations, but Arsenal now have a permanent appointment for the position with King.

Ornstein reports that King will play a key role on contracts and legal work at Arsenal, having previously been the club’s senior legal counsel for football operations.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Gabriel and William Saliba of Arsenal speak during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Simon Collings confirms for The Standard that Arsenal are indeed set to appoint King, though he’ll only start work next month.

Arsenal have a couple of expiring contracts this season, with Thomas Partey and Jorginho’s deals running down. King will have to help the club to execute whatever decision they make on those two.

Perhaps the bigger concern is a few contracts expiring in 2027, including Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Gabriel Martinelli. They’ll have two years to go next summer, which is usually when the club start to review contracts.

Arsenal presumably want that quartet around for many years to come, so they’ll have to start working on those deals over the next 12 months or so.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Emirates Stadium on October 01, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

The good news for King is that Mikel Arteta has already extended his deal, so the club at least have some certainty over the manager’s position for the coming years.