James King, a former Arsenal executive, is set to return to the club as director of football operations.
King left the Premier League club in May 2022 to join the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) as general counsel but is now set to go back to the Emirates Stadium to take up the position left by Richard Garlick.
Garlick previously occupied the role, assisting on legal and contractual issues, before he stepped up to become managing director when longtime CEO Vinai Venkatesham departed at the end of last season.
King’s appointment has been in the works since the summer with Garlick offering support where necessary to get Arsenal through the transfer window.
King had been with Arsenal since 2016 where he worked on commercial deals for the legal team before moving to their football operations department in 2018.
Before his exit his most recent title at the club was senior legal counsel for football operations. He was also a member of the Football Association’s legal and governance group for women’s football.
King worked with Arsenal’s men’s, women’s and academy teams during his previous spell at the north London club.
Garlick joined Arsenal in 2021 from the Premier League where he spent three years in the role of director of football.
The Athletic revealed the news of Venkatesham’s exit after 14 years in September last year.
(Photo: PFA)
