Bristol City recruit Ellis as sporting director

Bristol City have appointed former Arsenal technical director James Ellis as their sporting director.

Ellis left the Premier League club in February after seven months in the role, and was previously their head of recruitment after joining the Gunners in 2021 from Fulham.

The 46-year-old has already started work to help the Robins appoint a head coach for next season after the end of Roy Hodgson's interim spell at Ashton Gate, following the departure of Gerhard Struber in March.

City chief executive Charlie Boss told the club website, external: "I am delighted to be able to tell you that James Ellis will join us as our new sporting director ahead of the 2026-27 season.

"He has already been advising on candidates for the head coach role. He has done some excellent groundwork in identifying and meeting with those candidates.

"Once the 2026-27 campaign is under way he will oversee coaching, recruitment, performance, medical and the academy.

"In the meantime, his focus will be entirely on both the appointment of a new head coach and in shaping our business over the transfer window."

During his five years at Arsenal, Ellis has been credited with implementing much of the recruitment structures they now use, including using technologies and data analytics and improving their development and player pathway structure.

"I believe that investment in people is so important in high performance," Ellis previously 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."

In his message to supporters, Boss also thanked Robins fans for their "unwavering support" this season, adding: "It was an honour to have Roy coach the team for the final seven games and to have him with us at the Robins High Performance Centre.

"He has done what we asked him to do in helping to set the standards we need to be successful and we have all learned a lot from him."

Boss also said season ticket sales for 2026-27 were already exceeding those of last year.

Ellis' arrival at Ashton Gate is another major change brought in under new chief executive Boss, who joined Bristol City in February.

Boss said on his arrival that hiring a sporting director was required to get Bristol City ready to reach the Premier League.

Following the sacking of Struber in March and former England boss Hodgson being appointed on an interim basis, Boss added that filling the sporting director position was his "number one priority".

"Part of the benefit of this decision is it really allows that [new sporting director] to come in and really design a sporting organisation, top to bottom, that they believe can get us to the Premier League," Boss said.