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David Ornstein has confirmed that Andrea Berta is expected to start work as Arsenal's new sporting director in the 'coming weeks'.
Ornstein recently reported that the club aimed to appoint their long-term Edu Gaspar successor this month, with Berta, formerly of Atletico Madrid, emerging as one of the top candidates. The final shortlist of contenders was believed to also include interim sporting director Jason Ayto, but the Gunners have opted to make an external appointment.
Berta reached an agreement with Arsenal at the weekend, and he'll soon arrive in north London with a big job on his hands.
Andrea Berta agrees to become Arsenal's next sporting director
🚨 Andrea Berta reaches agreement with Arsenal to become sporting director. 53yo left Atletico Madrid in Jan & was among multiple candidates in process. Italian prioritised #AFC above other top-level opportunities + contracts being finalised @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/zOlcjJtMIr
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) March 8, 2025
Berta became available in January after departing Atleti having spent more than a decade in the Spanish capital. He worked closely with the demanding Diego Simeone and had a hand in the club's rise with the Argentinian at the helm.
His work has seen him garner great veneration across the continent, and Arsenal weren't the only club interested in acquiring his services. Berta reportedly also received offers from clubs in Serie A, but the director opted for an alternate challenge instead of returning to his homeland.
Ornstein reports that Berta will soon sign a contract with the Gunners before starting his new role before the end of the month. Mikel Arteta is also believed to have given the Italian his nod of approval. The Spaniard had an excellent relationship with Edu before the Brazilian decided to jump ship last November.
Berta, given his experience with Simeone, should function as a healthy challenger to Arteta on the recruitment front, and he also boasts the experience of negotiating mammoth transfers. The director's record is far from pristine, but you'd do well to find any operator who has anything close to a 100% hit rate.
His appointment is a massive one for Arsenal ahead of what's projected to be a busy summer in north London. We all know that a frontline rejig is necessary, but the club are also going to need to rejuvenate their midfield engine room with Thomas Partey and Jorginho poised to depart at the end of their contracts in June.
It was crucial that the appointment was made with the summer window months away, and Berta's imminent arrival means he has plenty of time to consider the club's plans ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.