Premier League clubs use varied sporting director models and power arrangements

Premier League clubs employ a wide range of sporting director and football-operations models, with responsibility and influence differing markedly from club to club. At Arsenal, Andrea Berta was appointed sporting director in March and has been credited with an immediate impact after more than a decade at Atlético Madrid.

The 54-year-old, who began his career in finance, led recruitment in a summer outlay of more than £250m that included Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, and works in consultation with chief executive Richard Garlick, manager Mikel Arteta and co-chair Josh Kroenke. James Ellis was named technical director with a remit to deliver a long-term player-progression strategy and strengthen the pathway from academy to first team.

The structures vary elsewhere. Chelsea operate five sporting directors in a system put in place after the 2022 takeover, while Burnley use a technical committee in which the chair, the manager and chief operating officer sit and the manager has the final decision on signings. Everton moved away from a single director model to a divided leadership that includes a technical director, a director of scouting and recruitment, a head of strategy and analytics and a player trading lead, with David Moyes retaining the final say on transfers.

Brighton appointed Jason Ayto as sporting director to oversee "all footballing areas of the club" amid a data-driven recruitment approach.

Key Topics

Sports, Premier League, Sporting Director, Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton