Arsenal are reportedly closing in on the appointment of Arnaldo Abrantes as the club’s new head doctor following the departure of Zafar Iqbal.
The Portuguese sports medicine specialist is expected to arrive in north London this summer after leaving his position as head of medical services at Aston Villa.
Abrantes would become Arsenal’s latest senior appointment behind the scenes as the club continues its review of medical and performance operations following an injury-hit campaign.
The 39-year-old is a highly respected figure within football medicine and arrives with significant Premier League experience.
Before joining Aston Villa in 2024, Abrantes spent three years at Nottingham Forest as head of medical and performance.
His background is also unique compared to many working in elite football.
Abrantes represented Portugal as a sprinter at both the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2012 Olympics in London.
He was a national champion in both the 100m and 200m while simultaneously completing his medical studies in Lisbon.
Reports suggest Arsenal view him as the leading candidate to replace Iqbal, whose departure came as a surprise to many within the club.
Iqbal left his role shortly after Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain despite helping oversee a season that ended with the Gunners winning the Premier League title.
The former Crystal Palace doctor had only been in the position since arriving in 2024.
Arsenal have declined to publicly comment on the changes, but the restructuring appears to be linked to a wider assessment of the club’s injury record.
Several key players spent lengthy periods on the sidelines throughout the season.
Martin Odegaard struggled with knee and muscular issues, while Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka also missed significant stretches of the campaign.
Jurrien Timber has become the latest concern after being ruled out of the World Cup by the Netherlands due to an ongoing groin problem.
The Dutch Football Association confirmed that Timber had not recovered sufficiently to participate in the tournament.
Arsenal had previously commissioned Spanish physiotherapist Joaquin Acedo, who has a long-standing relationship with Mikel Arteta, to conduct a review into the club’s injury issues.
Acedo is expected to continue working with the club in some capacity moving forward.
Abrantes’ arrival would represent another major change within Arsenal’s medical department ahead of the new season.
With Arteta preparing to defend the Premier League title and challenge again in Europe, ensuring key players remain available will be a major priority.
The appointment of Abrantes suggests Arsenal are determined to strengthen that area as they look to build on last season’s success.