Arsenal and AFL club Port Adelaide will enter a partnership as part of Darren Burgess’ switch.

• Burgess will join Arsenal as new director of high performance
• Arsenal and Port Adelaide will share information on sports science and professional development
• Burgess will continue to supervise Adelaide’s fitness programmes

Port Adelaide confirmed that Burgess will join Arsenal in July and that the two clubs will be entering into a new partnership. Arsenal are expected to share insights into sports science, professional development and international growth.

Port Adelaide’s chief executive Keith Thomas gave some more insight into the deal.

“Arsenal have indicated their desire to be part of a new collaborative partnership with Port Adelaide in a range of areas including sports science, professional development and international growth,” he said.

“That brings some amazing opportunities with it and we look forward to putting that arrangement in place as soon as we can. It’s part of our ongoing journey and desire to becoming a world-class sports organisation.”

Thomas also had high praise for Burgess and the role he played in developing a world class performance programme.

“When we set out to rebuild our program we committed to being a global best practice sports organisation. To have a club like Arsenal hand pick Darren is testament to the calibre of our personnel, our football program and ultimately our organisation.

“It also further underlines the impact and influence Port Adelaide is having on the international sports stage, from our success in China, to being named as one of Sports International’s top 20 sports innovators globally.”

It seems Arsenal will be getting a much-respected expert in fitness and performance. Everyone associated with the club will be hoping he can help the club shake off its persistent injury problems and chronic dips in performance at certain points in the season.