Per Mertesacker is reportedly set to leave his position as Arsenal’s youth manager at the end of the current campaign after eight years in the position.
According to the Daily Mail, the 41-year-old said it was time to “explore something new,” and the Gunners announced his departure in a club statement.
After retiring as a player, the former Germany international immediately took over as manager of the north London club’s academy in 2018.
During his time, players like Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and Max Dowman made their way from the Hale End production line into Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal first team.
What Mertesacker Say
He said: “Arsenal is and will always be a very special club to me, so this was a difficult decision.
“I am very thankful for the trust the club put in me when transitioning from a first-team player directly into the role as head of academy.
“Now it is time for me to move on and explore something new and push myself even further.”
CEO Richard Garlick added: “We support Per’s decision to pursue something new, but we will be incredibly sad to see him leave at the end of the season.
“We were fortunate to have retained Per as academy manager once he finished his playing career with us in 2018. He understands what Arsenal stands for and this has been a constant in his leadership.
“We’re happy that Per remains in role until the end of the season whilst we focus on our succession plan.
“We continue in our pursuit of winning major trophies with a sustained focus and investment in our academy.”