Arsenal are preparing to cut around 60 jobs across several departments as part of a major restructuring exercise, just days after manager Mikel Arteta signed a new four-year contract reportedly worth up to £25 million per year.
The planned redundancies have attracted attention because of their timing, with Arteta receiving a substantial pay rise shortly before the club informed employees of the proposed job losses. The Spaniard’s new deal runs until 2030 and places him among the highest-paid managers in world football, with reports suggesting he could earn approximately £68,500 per day.
According to reports, the proposed cuts could affect up to seven per cent of Arsenal’s 871 permanent employees. Arsenal insist the restructuring is intended to streamline operations, improve efficiency and ensure resources are directed towards areas considered essential to the club’s long-term ambitions.
The proposed changes primarily concern off-field positions, while coaching and performance staff in the men’s and women’s teams, the academy, security operations and community programmes are reportedly protected.
The development has raised questions about the club’s financial priorities, particularly given Arsenal’s record revenue of £691 million for the 2024-25 financial year.
Arteta addressed the controversy, explaining that the review had been presented to him as part of an effort to improve the club and support future success. He also stressed that he was not the appropriate person to answer detailed questions about the redundancies.
The timing remains striking, while Arsenal are rewarding their manager with a lucrative long-term commitment, dozens of employees face uncertainty over their futures. The club’s challenge will be to demonstrate that the restructuring can deliver greater efficiency without undermining the people and operations that support its success on the pitch.