October 15: Arsenal plans to cut around 60 jobs as part of a drive to cut annual costs by up to £7m, despite record revenues and a Premier League title that have pushed the club into its strongest sporting and commercial position in years.
Chief executive Richard Garlick briefed staff on the proposals on Wednesday following an external review by Boston Consulting Group. A formal consultation is now underway, meaning the final number of redundancies could still change.
Around 800 people work at the club, putting approximately 7.5% of the workforce at risk.
The cuts are concentrated in non-playable departments, although some listening and analysis features are understood to be included. First team training and performance staff, the academy, Arsenal in the Community, the Arsenal Foundation and security operations are expected to be protected.
The timing is a little disconcerting for a club that has positioned itself at the heart of a passionate community.
Arsenal have just won the Premier League and reached the Champions League final, while their latest published accounts showed record revenue of £691m in 2024/25, up £74.4m on the previous year.
That said, costs have risen almost as quickly. Other operating expenses rose 37% to £200.8m, while wages rose to £346.8m. Arsenal still posted a pre-tax loss of £1.4m, albeit a sharp improvement on the previous year’s £17.7m deficit and helped by £81.2m in profits from player sales.
The club has now posted losses for seven consecutive financial years.
This helps explain why the review has focused on the size and structure of the operation rather than the game side. Arsenal are understood to believe the changes could save between £5m and £7m a year and give them greater flexibility to continue investing in the squad.
The announcement comes just a week after Mikel Arteta agreed a new contract until 2030. The Times have reported a base salary of around £20m for the Spaniard, which could rise to £25m with bonuses.
There is no suggestion the two decisions are directly linked – the organizational overhaul began before last season’s title win – but the contrast will not be lost on staff at the inquiry.
Arsenal have been here before, cutting 55 jobs during the pandemic in 2020. No empty stadium or collapsing matchday revenue this time. Instead, there is a title, record revenue and a club still looking for places to save.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at (email protected)
