Arsenal has poached Richard Garlick from the Premier League and made him their new director of football operations.
He was previously the Premier League’s director of football, a position that he held since 2018.
Mail Online says that he will work very closely with Edu Gaspar as the club’s new contract negotiator.
In that capacity, he would serve as a replacement for Huss Fahmy, who left the club last year as a part of a restructuring of non-playing staff.
He is a specialist in Sports law and qualifies as a solicitor.
He has worked his way around the football system, having previously spent 8 years at West Brom, working in different capacities.
When Fahmy left the club last year, Edu took on some of his responsibilities, Garlick is expected to relieve him of them now, but they will both work closely together.
A statement confirming his appointment on Mail Online reads:
‘Richard Garlick is joining Arsenal as director of football operations.
‘Richard, who is currently director of football at the Premier League and was previously director of football administration at West Bromwich Albion, will join the club in the coming months.
‘He will be a member of the Arsenal executive team and will be working closely with technical director Edu, manager Mikel Arteta and academy manager Per Mertesacker.
‘His responsibilities will include football operations in the first team and academy, all player contract management and relationships with football’s governing bodies.
‘Richard, a qualified solicitor specialising in sports law, has been at the Premier League since 2018. He was previously at West Bromwich Albion for eight years.’
This should have been done a looking time. Edu is not reliable enough and our transfers and contracts handling have been bad in recent years TRUTH!!!
Good appointment.
No mega deals for has beens any more hopefully.
He seems well qualified for what is becoming an increasingly important job.I wish him well.
Hopefully he brings SOME Dein-like and Diamond Eye-like qualities to the Emirates due to his sports law background and his close connections to youth development program…my only trepidation is his resume is a little thin as his only Premiership experience is with West Brom, who were relegated during his tenure, and the fact that his position with the League was a new one, so it would be somewhat difficult to truly evaluate his time there…fingers-crossed!!!