Influential ex-Arsenal figure behind signing of Mika Biereth makes Championship switch

Former Arsenal head of emerging talent Yousuf Sajjad has been appointed as first team player recruitment manager at Luton Town.

Sajjad joined the Gunners from Chelsea four years ago where he was responsible for the club's development sides between Under-17 and Under-23.

He worked primarily with technical director Edu Gaspar and academy manager Per Mertesacker, in a role which saw him identify talents including Reuell Walters, Mika Biereth and Salah Oulad-M'Hand.

A spell at Dutch side Den Bosch also saw Sajjad become one of the youngest technical directors in European football, at the age of 30.

Sajjad recently revealed in an interview with Rising Ballers that he wanted to sign Florian Wirtz as his Koln contract came to an end, but injury problems prevented the move from happening.

“There was actually a period where he was at Koln, he was coming towards the end of his contract,” said Sajjad.

“Of course, you could see the level of player he was but he had also that season quite a few injuries, so he was playing, he wasn’t playing. It was almost like, at that point, it was just not something that they were keen on at that moment, or at least he was keen on pursuing at that moment.”

“I think education is quite important in Germany. It was almost like he had to finish school, then he makes obviously a great move to Leverkusen, it works out again really well for him and probably has the choice of whatever he clubs in the world that would want to sign him, but also achieving great things at Leverkusen as well.”