Bayer Leverkusen fitness coach leaves to join Arsenal

Bayer Leverkusen fitness coach Jose Jimenez has left Bayer Leverkusen to join Arsenal, according to a report.

Simon Collings reports that Bayer Leverkusen fitness coach Jose Jimenez has left his role at the German club, and he will be joining Arsenal.

Collings adds that Jimenez previously worked at Cadiz, alongside current Arsenal consultant Joaquin Acedo. Ex-Cadiz staffer Acedo will be working part-time with Arsenal in 2026/27.

Acedo has been running a review of Arsenal’s medical team, with the BBC recently reporting that his influence on the summer changes has been significant.

Arsenal head of sports science and performance Tom Allen is leaving the club this summer, along with head of medical Zafar Iqbal and lead performance coach Sam Wilson.

Jimenez is seemingly one of the incoming replacements, along with S.C. Braga fitness coach Antonio Gomez.

Reports from Portugal last week confirmed that Gomez had left his role at Braga for Arsenal, and Braga have already filled his position with Ramiro Marin of Barca Atletic.

There have also been links with Real Betis’ Eneko Angulo and Aston Villa’s Arnaldo Abrantes, though those appointments haven’t yet been confirmed.

Then Arsenal have appointed Pascal De Maesschalck as their new academy manager after Per Mertesacker’s exit, though the role is now being referred to as ‘academy director’.

The Arsenal u21 head coach position is also vacant after Max Porter’s move to Stoke City, with David Horseman seemingly taking charge on an interim basis.

Further up the hierarchy, Arsenal are reportedly also bringing in Javier Alonso from Spanish Segunda Division club Granada CF to work alongside Andrea Berta, with Maurizio Micheli already joining from Napoli earlier this year.

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