Arsenal are closing in on the appointment of Napoli chief scout Maurizio Micheli, with the experienced Italian expected to reunite with sporting director Andrea Berta at the Premier League leaders.
According to multiple reports in the UK, including The Athletic, Micheli has agreed to leave Napoli, where he has served as head of scouting since 2018, to take up a key role in Arsenal’s expanding recruitment team. Berta, who joined the Gunners earlier this year, is said to have personally identified Micheli as the ideal figure to strengthen the club’s global scouting network.
A Talent Finder With Nearly 30 Years of Experience
The 54-year-old Micheli started his scouting career at Udinese in 1996 and gained a reputation for finding undiscovered treasures. He went on to spend nine years at Brescia before joining Napoli in 2010. After spells at Hellas Verona (2015) and Bologna (2016), he returned to Naples two years later as chief scout — a position he has held for the past seven years.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Kim Min-jae, Giacomo Raspadori (2022) – Integral to the team’s attacking evolution and defensive solidity.
Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Alessandro Buongiorno, Romelu Lukaku (2024) – Strengthened Napoli’s depth during their most recent title campaign.
Earlier in his career, Micheli also oversaw the signing of Marek Hamšík — first identifying the Slovak midfielder while at Udinese. Hamšík would go on to become Napoli’s all-time appearance leader and, for a time, their record goalscorer.
Football journalist James Horncastle has additionally credited Micheli with spotting Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari during his Udinese days, further underlining his long-standing ability to identify top-tier talent.
Fresh Start in North London
Reports from Italy suggest Micheli had been considering a new challenge after nearly three decades in Italian football and two Scudetti with Napoli. His move to Arsenal marks another step in the club’s post-restructure recruitment strategy under Berta and manager Mikel Arteta, designed to combine European scouting expertise with a modern data-driven approach.
If confirmed, Micheli’s arrival would represent a major coup for Arsenal — securing one of Europe’s most respected scouting figures at a time when the club is seeking to consolidate its position both domestically and on the continent.
