Arsenal are set to appoint Pascal De Maesschalck as their new academy manager, with a deal now agreed and the appointment to be confirmed in due course.
Sami Mokbel reports for the BBC that Arsenal are set to appoint Strasbourg technical director Pascal De Maesschalck as their new academy head, following Per Mertesacker’s summer departure.
The deal has been agreed, with De Maesschalck to leave his current role with Strasbourg to make the switch to north London.
James McNicholas had initially broken the news for The Athletic that Arsenal had held talks with De Maesschalck over the job, and it appears it’s now a done deal.
As well as his role at Strasbourg, De Maesschalck has worked as the academy manager at Club Brugge and AS Monaco. So he doesn’t lack experience in the position.
It was important that Arsenal made a speedy appointment, as the vacant position was already causing problems.
The likes of Emerson Nwaneri (younger brother of Ethan) and Kyran Thompson look set to leave as Arsenal struggle to agree contract extensions with them, and the u21 head coach position is vacant after Max Porter’s departure.
Porter’s u21 team weren’t particularly impressive in 2025/26, so that was a necessary change anyway. But a club with no academy manager and no u21 head coach isn’t in a great position to extend contracts and lure top talents.
The pursuit of De Maesschalck is a positive sign on that front, and Arsenal will hope to announce the appointment as soon as possible.
- Ex Gunner signs for Watford after being released by ArsenalFormer Arsenal goalkeeper Naomi Williams has signed for Watford as a free agent after leaving the club this summer following eight years in north London.
- Referee review: Sunderland v ArsenalArsenal beat Sunderland 2-0, but John Brooks and Stuart Attwell face scrutiny after a disputed penalty and inconsistent handling of key incidents.
- Dowman and Salmon start as Arsenal u21s thumped by ChelseaMax Dowman and Marli Salmon started as Arsenal Under-21s lost 4-1 to Chelsea, ending their unbeaten Premier League 2 start at Meadow Park.
- Nwaneri scores again as Arsenal u18s beat Crystal PalaceEmerson Nwaneri scored again as Arsenal Under-18s beat Crystal Palace 2-0 to make it back-to-back wins in the U18 Premier League South.
- Gabriel Martinelli scores 30-minute hattrickGabriel Martinelli scored a 32-minute hat-trick for Al-Hilal in a 6-0 win over Al-Taawoun, his first goals since leaving Arsenal.