Jack Wilshere to leave Arsenal after agreeing 'exciting' Norwich move | OneFootball

Wilshere has been Arsenal Under-18s boss since 2022 but feels a first-team role will help advance his coaching career

Wilshere has been Arsenal Under-18s head coach since 2022 but the 32-year-old will move into a first-team position working under Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup.

Wilshere feels the move should advance his coaching career.

Norwich play Preston on Tuesday, have a day off on Wednesday and Wilshere will start when the players are back in on Thursday.

Exit: Wilshere started his role with Arsenal Under-18s when he retried from playing aged 30

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Wilshere has been at the Norwich training ground and met with Thorup and his staff a few times.

He is excited by the move and talks progressed well between the clubs thanks to Norwich sporting director Ben Knapper, who used to work at Arsenal.

Wilshere started his role with Arsenal Under-18s when he retired from playing aged 30 and led the Gunners to the FA Youth Cup Final in his first season in charge.

Norwich boss Thorup hopes the appointment of Wilshere will help create more "interest" and "excitement" around the club.

Asked about people of Wilshere's calibre being linked, Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk: "We have to make sure we have people in the building that would be interesting for other clubs."

He continued: "We are about to build something special, and an environment and a culture and way of playing that is exciting, so people want to be here.

"And people from outside look at the people here and that's a good connection to have because it creates some interest and it creates some excitement and that's what we want."

Wilshere held talks with MLS club Colorado Rapids about becoming their head coach last October but ultimately stayed at Arsenal.

Arsenal are 11th in the Premier League Under-18s table with nine points from their first six games of the season. Their next match is coincidentally away at Norwich on Saturday.

Norwich’s first team are seventh in the Championship and targeting promotion.