Chief executive Ivan Gazidis will leave Arsenal on October 31 to take up a similar post at AC Milan, the Premier League club have announced.

Speculation that Gazidis – who oversaw Unai Emery’s appointment to replace Arsene Wenger in May and has also been behind the change in management structure at the Emirates Stadium – will depart for Italy has been rife for some time.

Now the move has been confirmed, with Raul Sanllehi, currently head of football relations at the Emirates Stadium, to become head of football when Gazidis heads to Milan.

Meanwhile Arsenal’s chief commercial officer Vinai Venkatesham will take over the role of managing director at the same point.