Ex-Arsenal chief leaves Brighton after just 9 months

Brighton and Hove Albion have confirmed that former Arsenal interim sporting director Jason Ayto has left the club, less than a year after joining.

Brighton and Hove Albion released a statement on Wednesday to confirm that Jason Ayto has left the club, nine months after joining them as their sporting director.

“I’d like to thank Jason for everything he has done for us, and to wish him well for the future,” Brighton chairman Tony Bloom said in a brief statement.

Brighton have effectively promoted existing technical director Mike Cave to take on Ayto’s responsibilities, working with the existing senior team.

Before joining Brighton, Ayto had also been in contention for the sporting director role at Newcastle United, but Ross Wilson (formerly of Nottingham Forest) ended up taking that job instead.

Ayto had previously worked at Arsenal as a scout, then chief scout, then the club’s assistant sporting director, before taking on the top job on an interim basis following Edu Gaspar’s departure.

The highlight of Ayto’s time in charge was the progress he made on a deal to sign Martin Zubimendi, though fans were disappointed by the lack of incomings for Arsenal in the 2025 January transfer window.

Ayto came close to getting the Arsenal sporting director job on a permanent basis, but the Gunners opted instead to bring in the more experienced Andrea Berta.

That change has been a successful one for Arsenal so far, with Berta doing impressive business over the 2025 summer window.

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