Ex-Arsenal director on growth under 'red arrow' Arteta

Ellis' role in identifying signings

Ellis' contribution to the evolution of the club shouldn't be underestimated.

Entrusted by former sporting director Edu, his interim successor Jason Ayto and former club director Tim Lewis, Ellis was key in implementing the recruitment structures the club rely on today.

When he arrived in 2021, Ellis was tasked with improving what was coined Arsenal's 'football intelligence' unit in the UK, with a view to helping the club make better-informed market decisions.

Arsenal - more than ever before - are leaning on emerging technologies and data analytics to inform their market decisions; or to put it differently, help them avoid the recruitment mistakes that marked the end of Arsene Wenger's reign and Unai Emery's 18 months in charge.

Ellis has been a key driver towards the implementation of those talent-identification systems, which are used in the pre-academy, academy and across the senior programmes for the men's and women's teams.

During his time at the club, his responsibilities would grow, and he became the club's technical director in June 2025. That meant his remit extended to supporting the implementation of new-look internal structures, including the player development and pathway process.

The £34m signing of Jurrien Timber from Ajax in the summer of 2023 has been cited as one of 'football intelligence' unit's most prominent successes, though many would argue Declan Rice's arrival from West Ham in the same close season has been the biggest triumph.

"In any rise, I believe it is the sum of all the parts, rather than one process or person. I was very lucky to be working with some very talented people," Ellis said.

"My role was very much in the background when I arrived in 2021 - Edu, Jason, Tim Lewis and Mikel were very much on the start of the journey to bringing success back to the club.

"We all wanted to make the place better with people at the heart of it. We were all committed to a plan over a period of time to support the growth and development of performance.

"All of the time I was at the club, we were all attempting to improve every day - that was the culture we were trying to set."

Ellis wants to return with people-focused approach

While success across all age groups was a major part of the leadership team's priorities list, there was - inevitably - a sharper focus on first-team performance amid an understanding that succeeding at the very top of the club would facilitate prosperity lower down.

"We were very clear that the red arrow at the front was Mikel, and the first team was the one that we had to support closely," Ellis said.

"But that was also the pull that allowed us to do more. Consistent first-team performances allowed us to innovate more with the rest of the club, play risk and reward and invest in medium to long term.

"Ultimately a club is as successful as first-team performance and we all understand that."

Edu's exit in 2024 eventually led to Andrea Berta's arrival as sporting director in April 2025.

The Italian's impact at the Emirates has earned rave reviews from supporters, with Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke among the players signed in the summer.

Whether Berta's business eventually ends the club's wait for the title remains to be seen, but Ellis has seen the benefits of the Italian's work first-hand.

"The change from Edu to Jason to Andrea was an evolution for the club and one natural in any performance environment," he said.

"There were different approaches, but the goal was the same - to support a high-performing first team winning trophies.

"And as you can see now, they are very nearly there. All three of them are very different people, who have very different strengths, and all have made a contribution to where the club are now."

Ellis, who confirmed his departure from Arsenal through a social media post earlier this month, is looking to return to the game in time for next season in a senior leadership role.

"I feel I have unfinished impact and objectives I would like to achieve," he said.

"I have been through rejection, education, coaching, scouting, senior leadership all in this and would like to carry on."

And when he does return, Ellis insists people will be central to his ethos.

"I believe that investment in people is so important in high performance," he said.

"You undoubtedly need all of the technology, the data, the facilities you can have to support, but it's the people that are irreplaceable - connections, relationships, support, understanding, care and motivation.

"Those who you lead, those who work for you or around you, they are so important."

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