Two new experts join Arsenal revamp

Arsenal’s off-field overhaul has gathered pace with the appointment direct from professional cycling of Team Sky’s legal and commercial expert Huss Fahmy to work on player contracts.

Fahmy has been a key part of Team Sky’s operation since around its inception in 2010 after moving to Sky the previous year from the City, where he worked for the multinational law firm Herbert Smith. His arrival at Arsenal is a further signal that chief executive Ivan Gazidis is delivering on his promise to make changes this summer in the search for best practice following the disappointment of finishing fifth in the Premier League.

Fitness expert Darren Burgess will also join Arsenal next month, in a new role as director of high performance, after his appointment was personally agreed by manager Arsène Wenger. Burgess, 43, who is currently working in Australian rules football with Port Adelaide, was previously at Liverpool with Brendan Rodgers, as head of fitness and conditioning from 2010 to 2013. His role at Arsenal will focus on medicine, fitness, psychology and performance analysis, as well as work with the academy.

Fahmy’s brief centres on the legal aspects of player contracts, particularly important as negotiations continue with Alexis Sánchez, Mesut Özil, Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs, Wojciech Szczesny and Alex Oxlade-chamberlain, who have a year left on their contracts.

Fahmy and Burgess will have no involvement in player recruitment.