Former Arsenal transfer chief who clinched £60m deal set to join Premier League rivals

Jason Ayto is set to return to the Premier League, just four months after leaving Arsenal. The 40-year-old was heavily involved in the Gunners’ move for Martin Zubimendi during a spell as interim sporting director, but left North London in May, not long after being beaten to the permanent job by Andrea Berta.

Now, though, it appears the 40-year-old won’t spend long out of the game. Brighton are looking for a new technical director to replace David Weir, whose exit was confirmed on Friday, and Ayto is in line for the job.

According to The Mail, Ayto was also a contender to take the vacant equivalent role at Newcastle. Instead, that looks likely to go to Ross Wilson, who currently works with Ayto’s former mentor Edu at Nottingham Forest.

Reflecting on Weir’s time at Brighton, owner Tony Bloom said: “David has served our club very well, but we now wish to refresh our technical area with new leadership and direction. I’d like to thank David for everything he has done for us, and to wish him well for the future.”

Chief executive Paul Barber will handle Weir’s responsibilities until a permanent successor arrives. “I have greatly enjoyed working with David over the past eight years, and have appreciated his support and hard work throughout this period. I wish David all the best going forward,” Barber said.

Ayto spent more than a decade at Arsenal, initially joining as a scout and then rising to the role of chief scout in 2021. He served under Edu in the latter role, during a period which saw the club overhaul their squad under Mikel Arteta’s management.

Arsenal’s first summer with Ayto as chief scout saw them spend around £150million on new signings, with Martin Odegaard’s permanent move after a successful loan one of the higher-profile deals. The same window saw the club add £50m defender Ben White, though other signings - including Aaron Ramsdale and Nuno Tavares - have since been sold on.

While new signing Zubimendi joined on Berta’s watch, Arsenal’s pursuit had gone on since Ayto was in his interim sporting director position. According to reports at the time from The Athletic, it was Ayto who ‘saw the transfer through to completion’ after negotiations began when Edu was still in charge.

The same publication reports that the deal was all but done in April when Berta took the reins. Since that deal went through, the Italian has overseen further deals including the late-window swoop for Ebere Eze.

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