Brighton set to appoint Jason Ayto as new sporting director | OneFootball

Brighton & Hove Albion are set to appoint former Arsenal executive Jason Ayto as their new sporting director following David Weir’s departure.

The 40-year-old will begin work next week after taking over from Weir, who left the club last Friday after three years in the role.

Weir had served as technical director since May 2022, having stepped in after Dan Ashworth moved on to Newcastle United.

Manager Fabian Hurzeler said that the change had been a club decision and paid tribute to the Scot’s influence.

“We are all very thankful for his work,” Hurzeler said. “It was a pleasure to work with him. He is a great guy.

“We wish him all the best for the future. Now it is about focusing again on football and trying to minimise the noise around us.”

Ayto arrives on the south coast after more than a decade at Arsenal. He worked as a scout before becoming chief scout and later assistant sporting director to Edu.

When Edu left Arsenal to join Nottingham Forest last November, Ayto stepped in as interim sporting director before departing himself in May.

He was closely involved in recruitment, playing a role in Arsenal’s pursuit of Martin Zubimendi and in the arrival of Jurrien Timber from Ajax.

Ayto was also part of a broader restructuring of the club’s scouting operation, helping Edu create a more data-driven recruitment model.

He had been considered for permanent roles elsewhere, including Newcastle United.

The appointment continues Brighton’s trend of putting faith in executives who are comfortable working with data-led processes, a hallmark of owner Tony Bloom’s model.

Ayto’s experience at Arsenal in reshaping recruitment to be leaner and more analytical is a strong fit for the Seagulls.