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Arsenal have told staff they plan to cut 60 jobs just months after winning their first Premier League title in more than two decades.
It is understood that the news of the redundancies was given to staff on Wednesday morning in a call with Richard Garlick, the club’s chief executive.
Telegraph Sportreported last month that staff were fearing job cuts after the club enlisted management consultants Boston Consulting Group to examine the business.
The job cuts will not directly affect the footballing departments, such as the men’s and women’s first teams and academy set-up, and will instead be concentrated on off-field areas. Roles in The Arsenal Foundation, community positions and the security department will also be unaffected.
The news of the redundancies comes seven days after the club announced that manager Mikel Arteta had signed a lucrative new deal. The Spaniard is now believed to be the highest-paid manager in the Premier League, having committed to a four-year contract that is worth in the region of £20m per year.
Arsenal’s financial accounts show that the club has made seven consecutive years of losses, despite their major improvements on the field under Arteta’s management.
The most recent financial accounts, for the 2024-25 campaign, also showed a remarkable rise in operating costs, which climbed to £201m from £148m in the previous season.
Arsenal are looking to ensure they are appropriately set up for sustained success, especially given the financial regulations affecting all Premier League clubs. They called in consultants in an attempt to become more efficient with their resources.
For the changes to come so soon after the Premier League title victory is likely to be galling for many members of staff, although the reality is that winning the league does not represent an immediate financial boost for the club. Arsenal’s incentivisation model means that significant bonuses are paid out when major trophies are won.
While the on-field areas are expected to be unaffected by these staffing changes, there has also been scrutiny on the men’s first-team setup in recent months.
A review by Joaquín Acedo, the Spanish physio, of Arsenal’s fitness issues resulted in the departures from the club of Zafar Iqbal, the former head doctor, and Tom Allen, the head of sports science and performance. These key individuals, though, have since been replaced.
Other high-profile departures in recent months include Juliet Slot, the chief commercial officer, and Svenja Geissmar, the long-serving general counsel.