Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed that sporting director Jason Ayto has left the club with immediate effect, bringing an unexpectedly swift end to his tenure on the south coast.
The Premier League club announced the news on Wednesday, June 3, in a brief statement on their official website. Ayto had only joined Brighton in September 2025 after spending more than a decade at Arsenal, where he rose through the ranks to become one of the most influential figures behind the scenes.
Brighton chairman Tony Bloom paid tribute to Ayto’s contribution during his short spell at the club.
“I’d like to thank Jason for everything he has done for us, and to wish him well for the future,” Bloom said in the club statement.
Chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber also acknowledged Ayto’s role within the club’s leadership structure.
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“Jason has been a valued team colleague on our strategic leadership group. I’d like to thank him for his contribution since he joined the club and wish him all the best going forward,” Barber said.
Brighton have not disclosed the reasons behind Ayto’s departure. However, the club confirmed that technical director Mike Cave will assume responsibility for overseeing all sporting matters with immediate effect. Cave will report directly to Barber while working alongside the existing senior football operations team.
Ayto arrived at Brighton last September following a highly regarded spell at Arsenal. Having joined the North London club in 2014 as a scout, he progressed through several key recruitment and technical positions, eventually becoming assistant sporting director and later serving in an interim sporting director capacity.
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He was widely credited with helping shape Arsenal’s recruitment strategy during a period that saw the arrivals of several high-profile players.
His appointment at Brighton came as part of a restructuring of the club’s football operations following the departure of former technical director David Weir. At the time, Brighton described Ayto as one of the brightest young sporting directors in English football and entrusted him with overseeing recruitment, performance and medical departments across the men’s and women’s teams as well as the academy.
The timing of Ayto’s exit is likely to generate speculation given the significant role sporting directors play in modern football, particularly during the summer transfer window. Brighton are expected to remain active in the market as head coach Fabian Hürzeler prepares for the 2026-27 campaign.
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