Arsenal legend to depart club in the summer

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January 14, 2026 06:54 GMT (UK), by Ketan Patel

Arsenal’s Academy Manager Per Mertesacker will depart the club at the end of the season, ending a 15 year association with the Gunners and after eight years in his current role. The German is said to be exploring other opportunities, and is believed to have been given an offer from a Bundesliga side to take charge at the end of the season.

Mertesacker is a folklore hero to many Gunners fans, helping the club break a long spell without a trophy and an FA Cup win, and has helped many talents break into Arsenal‘s squad such as Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Mertesacker said, when announcing his departure: “Arsenal is and will always be a very special club to me, so this was a difficult decision. I am very thankful for the trust the club put in me when transitioning from a first-team player directly into the role as Head of Academy.  Now it is time for me to move on and explore something new and push myself even further.

“I remain focused on finishing the season strongly, continuing to nurture and develop our young talent and support a seamless transition until my very last day with the club.”