Jack Wilshere is set to leave Arsenal as the Gunners’ former midfielder has agreed a deal to join Championship side Norwich’s coaching team.
Wilshere, 32, has been Arsenal’s Under-18s head coach since 2022, but has revealed he’s excited by the opportunity to join manager Johannes Hoff Thorup’s staff to help the Norfolk side’s own promotion push.
The former midfielder believes the move will help advance his own coaching career.
Arsenal and Norwich have agreed a compensation package for Wilshere, and the former England international is expected to join-up with his new team at Carrow Road this Thursday.
It’s believed the deal was moved along by Norwich’s sporting director Ben Knapper, who used to work at Arsenal.
Arsenal Under-18s head coach Jack Wilshere is set to leave the club to join Norwich
Wilshere, 32, will join Championship side Norwich’s first-team coaching staff
The Norwich move is one Wilshere believes will help advance his own coaching career
According to the Standard, Norwich boss Thorup believes recruiting talent of Wilshere’s calibre will spark greater ‘interest’ and ‘excitement’ around the club.
Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk: ‘We have to make sure we have people in the building that would be interesting for other clubs.’
He added: ‘We are about to build something special, and an environment and a culture and way of playing that is exciting, so people want to be here.
‘And people from outside look at the people here and that’s a good connection to have because it creates some interest and it creates some excitement and that’s what we want.’
Wilshere had held talks with MLS club Colorado Rapids about becoming their manager last October, but opted to stay in north London at Arsenal.
The former midfielder played for Arsenal’s first team between 2008 and 2018
Wilshere retired form playing football professionally two years ago aged 30, having last played in the Danish Superliga for AFG.
He had signed pro for Arsenal in 2008 and subsequently had stints at West Ham and Bournemouth after leaving the north London club in 2018.
He started his current role Arsenal’s Under-18s in July 2022, leading the youngsters to an FA Youth Cup Final in his first season as manager.
Wilshere is a popular and respected member of the coaching staff at the Emirates among, and represents a natural figurehead for the club’s youth set-up, having progressed through it himself when he signed for it in 2001 as a nine year old.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk