Jason Ayto now set to become Newcastle United Sporting Director as Mitchell officially leaves? – Report | OneFootball

Newcastle United Sporting Director Paul Mitchell officially left the job on Monday.

An official announcement (see below) from the club revealing this out of the blue in late May, Mitchell having been in the job less than a year.

Steve Nickson is Newcastle United head of recruitment and along with his assistant Andy Howe (Eddie’s nephew, who also worked with him at Bournemouth), they are currently the main men assisting Eddie Howe with first team recruitment this summer, until a new appointment is made above them, of a new Newcastle United Sporting Director.

The search for his replacement is being led by recruitment specialist, Nolan Partners, with a number of candidates previously reported as being set to be interviewed, including former Arsenal assistant sporting director Jason Ayto, Nottingham Forest’s Ross Wilson, as well as Liverpool’s technical director Julian Ward.

Now a new report (see below) from The Telegraph, written by Mike McGrath and Sam Dean, has named Jason Ayto potentially set to take the Newcastle United Sporting Director role.

After narrowly missing out on the Arsenal Sporting Director role to the more experienced Andreas Berta, Jason Ayto then made the decision to leave the Emirates at the end of the 2024/25 season.

With Paul Mitchell now officially left AND Jason Ayto not contracted elsewhere, if the NUFC owners do believe he is the right man to become the new Newcastle United Sporting Director, then it would appear to be the case that we could expect an announcement very shortly.

The Telegraph report – 1 July 2025:

‘Newcastle United have made Jason Ayto a serious candidate for their sporting director role following his departure from Arsenal at the end of the season.

Ayto is seen as a prime contender at St James’ Park to replace Paul Mitchell, who left his post after less than a year at the club. Newcastle have been assessing options with Ayto’s reputation enhanced after a decade at the Emirates Stadium where he finished as interim sporting director.

The 40-year-old worked under ex-Arsenal sporting director Edu before being promoted last season with his departure announced by the club after Andrea Berta’s appointment. It is believed that Ayto was in the running for the position himself, with his notable successes including landing Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad despite intense competition.

His role at Newcastle would be on recruitment of players for Eddie Howe, contracts for existing players and working closely with the manager on long-term strategy for the team.

Newcastle have been looking to fill Mitchell’s position since his shock departure in May, which came eight months after his criticism of the transfer policy under the previous regime.

Howe had played an important role in that previous decision-making process that brought Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak, Nick Pope, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon to club – but the policy was branded by Mitchell as not “fit for purpose”.

Ayto has experience working with Mikel Arteta and helped shape them into Premier League title contenders, with the relationship with Howe seen as a key factor in the appointment of a new sporting director. He is thought to have other admirers in the Premier League, as well as being in the final reckoning for the Newcastle job.

Such was the closeness of the two men [Edu and Ayto], agents on the continent were soon referring to Ayto as “the right hand of Edu”. He began to play a major role in almost every aspect of Arsenal’s recruitment policy, with Arteta saying in November last year: “Edu and I probably got a lot of the praise, but the work behind it is done by this guy. Jason has been phenomenal.”

Ayto was a serious contender for the sporting director role on a full-time basis and, Telegraph Sport understands, came very close to getting it before Arsenal eventually settled on the more experienced Berta.

Having lost out on the job to Berta, it was no real surprise that Ayto then left Arsenal in May to pursue other opportunities. His star continues to rise.’

Newcastle United official announcement – 27 May 2025:

‘Paul Mitchell, Newcastle United’s Sporting Director, will leave the club by mutual consent at the end of June 2025.

Paul joined the club in July 2024, reuniting him with Magpies CEO Darren Eales, who had previously recruited Paul to Tottenham Hotspur in 2014.

Due to health reasons, Darren will be stepping down as CEO in the near future.

During Paul’s tenure as Sporting Director, the club won its first major domestic trophy in 70 years by lifting the Carabao Cup in March 2025 and has secured Champions League football for the 2025/26 campaign.

Paul Mitchell said: “I’d like to thank everyone at Newcastle United for their support over the last year, including Eddie Howe, Becky Langley, the players, staff, owners and fans. It has been an honour to be part of the club and to work with some incredible people.

“I’m leaving at a time that is right for me and the club, particularly with Darren Eales – someone who I have worked so closely with in my career – moving on soon.

“The club is in great hands on and off the pitch, and is in a fantastic position to continue building.

“I’d like to wish everyone connected with Newcastle United a bright and successful future.”