Report: Arsenal to welcome ‘really important’ new arrival on 17 May

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Richard Garlick, Arsenal’s new director of football operations, will take up his role with the Gunners on Monday 17 May, according to ESPN.

Arsenal announced the appointment back in January, saying he would be joining the club “in the coming months”.

Last week, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports how excited he was that Garlick – the current Premier League director of football – was joining the Emirates Stadium outfit.

“We were looking for someone with the right experience, with knowledge of the league and with the contacts to make us better in the team,” he said. “His expertise is going to be really important.”

Now, ESPN has reported that Garlick will take up his role with the Gunners on 17 May, six days before the season ends and more than three weeks prior to the transfer window opening.

The report claims that Garlick was due to leave his post as the Premier League’s Director of Football at the end of the season, but departed with immediate effect last month amid the fallout from the failed Super League breakaway.

Arsenal were one of the clubs involved in the project and with Garlick due to join the club, it was decided he should step down sooner than originally planned, added ESPN.

The outlet has also reported that one of Garlick’s first tasks will be to engage in contract negotiations with Hale End graduate Emile Smith Rowe.

The qualified solicitor, who specialises in sports law, was formerly West Bromwich Albion’s director of football before he moved to the Premier League in 2018.