Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta was heavily involved in Arsenal's search for a new sporting director
Arsenal are set to appoint Andrea Berta as their new sporting director, with manager [Mikel Arteta](http://Andrea Berta) strongly involved in the process to find Edu's successor.
Edu stepped down from the role in November and is set to take on a new job overseeing the clubs owned by Greek billionaire Evangelos Marinakis, including fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest, Greek giants Olympiakos and Brazilian club Rio Ave.
However, it has now emerged that Berta is set to succeed Edu, with the The Athletic reporting that the Italian has 'reached an agreement' to join Arsenal. Berta previously spent 12 years at Atletico Madrid before leaving the club in January.
The report also notes that Arteta had input on the recruitment process, which also involved Arsenal's managing director Richard Garlick, executive vice-chair Tim Lewis and co-chairman Josh Kroenke.
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Arteta's influence at the Emirates has grown since he was first appointed in 2019, with the Spaniard's job title changing from head coach to manager after a restructure in 2020. "The last nine months have probably been the most challenging nine months in Arsenal's history - and we've been around for 134 years," managing director Vinai Venkatesham explained at the time.
"Despite all of those challenges, Mikel has been driving this football club forward. He has lifted the spirits and lifted the energy here at London Colney and with Arsenal fans all across the world.
"He is doing an absolutely phenomenal job. The other thing that's clear is that right from the day he walked through the door, he was doing much more than being our head coach. So we're going to be changing his job title going forward.
Andrea Berta
Andrea Berta is set to join Arsenal ( Image: David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
"He'll move from head coach to be the first-team manager. That's recognition of what he's been doing from the day he walked in the door, but also where we see his capabilities."
Edu also had major influence at the club before deciding to resign, having been promoted from technical director to Arsenal's first ever sporting director in 2022 which saw him take on additional responsibilities.
Berta, meanwhile, was the sporting director at Italian clubs Genoa, Parma and AC Carpenedolo before he was appointed technical director at Atletico in 2013. He then became the club's sporting director in 2017.
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