Arsenal - Matteo Tognozzi
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal are closing in on the appointment of highly respected talent-spotter Matteo Tognozzi, in a move that would see the Gunners beat Juventus to his signature, according to multiple reports.
Tognozzi is expected to join Arsenal’s recruitment department in a senior role, working closely with the club’s new sporting director Andrea Berta. His arrival is seen as a significant coup for Arsenal, particularly given strong interest from his former club Juventus, who had hoped to bring him back to oversee their scouting operations.
Currently serving as sporting director at La Liga side Granada, Tognozzi previously spent over six years at Juventus, where he played a key role in developing Juventus Next Gen, the club’s U23 team competing in Italy’s Serie C. He earned a reputation for his sharp eye for emerging talent, having helped unearth and sign players such as Dean Huijsen, Kenan Yildiz, and Matias Soulé.
Juventus were keen on bringing Tognozzi back this summer but were unable to offer him a role that matched his expectations, prompting the Italian to explore opportunities abroad. Arsenal, undergoing a reshuffle in their football operations, appear set to take full advantage.
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Tognozzi’s impending arrival comes as Arsenal prepare for the departure of Jason Ayto, who has served the club for over a decade and most recently stepped in as interim sporting director following Edu Gaspar’s resignation last November. Ayto’s exit, communicated internally last month, has left a gap in the recruitment team that Tognozzi is now poised to fill.
Arsenal - Matteo Tognozzi
Matteo Tognozzi (Image credit: Getty Images)
Tognozzi has spoken openly about his desire for new challenges. In a 2023 interview with Tuttosport, he said: “After six and a half years [at Juventus], perhaps a circle has simply closed. I could have stayed in Turin to enjoy the results, but my nature pushes me to always look for new stimuli.”
His relentless work ethic and knack for long-term scouting have drawn admiration across Europe. He famously identified Matias Soulé during an Under-12 match in Argentina and maintained a strong relationship with the player and his family until Juventus secured his signature—despite interest from a dozen other top clubs.
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Tognozzi also revealed that he came close to securing future stars Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham during their formative years.
“We were really one step away from Haaland,” he recalled. “It was November 2017… he was one of my first contacts at Juventus. We had him in hand, but the operation was deemed too expensive to strengthen the youth team.”
Similarly, Tognozzi said Juventus narrowly missed out on Bellingham in 2019, despite having established a strong rapport with the young midfielder and his family.
His expected appointment comes at a time when Arsenal are looking to strengthen their academy and youth squads, with a clear focus on long-term talent development. The addition of Tognozzi is set to bolster that vision, as Mikel Arteta and Berta look to shape a squad capable of sustained domestic and European success.
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