Arsenal loans and pathway manager Ben Knapper has left the club to join Norwich City as sporting director.
Knapper initially joined Arsenal in 2010 as a football analyst, before quickly progressing to senior football analyst working closely with Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery in a period in which the Gunners won three FA Cups in a four-year period.
before becoming Loans Manager and first team scout. Earlier in 2023 this role grew to become Loans and Pathways manager.
Across these roles Knapper played a crucial role in helping of some of Hale End’s recent golden generation transition from academy football into the first team.
He also was vital in helping the likes of William Saliba and Folarin Balogun to have successful loan spells.
In a message sent round to staff on Friday afternoon Edu said:
“We are so proud that Ben has been appointed Sporting Director at Norwich City. Of course, we are all sad Ben is leaving us, because he is such a top professional and person, and we have enjoyed a great working relationship together.
He has been a huge asset to us during his career at Arsenal, where he has developed through our performance analysis teams to become our highly successful Loans and Pathway Manager.
“Ben has played a key role in the positive development of so many of our men’s players over the years, where he has driven a part of our football strategy to give our players the best possible experience, to ensure they return to us with enhanced qualities to continue their careers with us or elsewhere.
We are proud to have given Ben the opportunities to develop his own career too, and we wish him all the best in his next chapter with Norwich City.”
Knapper will officially begin work with Norwich at the end of next month, working with current sporting director Stuart Webber before Webber eventually transitions out of the club.
The recruitment process to find his replacement at Arsenal is now already underway.
