Arsenal has announced the appointment of Andrea Berta as the club’s new sporting director, filling a role that has been vacant since November. Berta, a 53-year-old Italian with a strong reputation in football, previously spent 12 years at Atletico Madrid in a similar capacity. He replaces Edu, a former Arsenal and Brazil midfielder.
Berta brings a diverse background to the position, having originally worked in banking before transitioning to roles with Italian clubs Parma and Genoa. He joined Atletico Madrid in 2013, starting as a technical director, and only departed from the club earlier this year. During Berta’s tenure, Atletico enjoyed significant success, securing two LaLiga titles, the Copa del Rey, Europa League, and the UEFA Super Cup. Notable player signings during his time include Jan Oblak and Antoine Griezmann.
Expressing his enthusiasm for his new role at Arsenal, Berta stated, “I am delighted to be joining Arsenal in what is a hugely exciting period for the club. I have been closely observing the club’s progress in recent years and have great admiration for the efforts made to re-establish Arsenal as a strong European football power.”
Edu, who joined Arsenal as technical director in 2019 and later advanced to sporting director, was instrumental in reviving Arsenal alongside manager Mikel Arteta. Together, they cultivated young talent and made strategic player acquisitions. Under their leadership, Arsenal has finished second to Manchester City in the previous two Premier League seasons and has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League in consecutive campaigns. The team is set to face Real Madrid in the upcoming month over two legs.
Since Edu’s departure, Jason Ayto has filled the position of interim sporting director. The club faced criticism for their failure to sign a critical striker during the winter transfer window, contributing to their 12-point deficit behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race. Addressing this gap might be one of Berta’s priority tasks towards the end of the season.
Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke praised Berta, stating, “Anyone who knows football knows Andrea is an impressive figure. He has vast knowledge of the game, a great track record, a strong network, and an insatiable desire to build winning teams.”
Arsenal, currently sitting in second place in the Premier League, is aiming for its first league title since 2004. The club has yet to capture a European championship, with their last significant trophy being the FA Cup in 2020.