Chelsea finalize signing of academy talent following unexpected Arsenal departure.

Mark Mason has announced his appointment as the Assistant Head of Goalkeeping at Chelsea following his departure from Arsenal.

Mason joined Arsenal as Head of Academy Goalkeeping before the start of the 2023/24 season but left the club in February. Arsenal had been advertising the vacant position since late last year, but the job listing is no longer active on their website, indicating that the role has either been filled or the listing has expired.

His move to Chelsea comes three months after Henrique Hilario left to join the Football Association, reuniting with England head coach Thomas Tuchel. Ben Roberts currently serves as Chelsea’s Head of Global Goalkeeping, while Michele De Bernardin is the First-Team Goalkeeper Coach, and James Russell acts as the Head of Academy Goalkeeping and First-Team Assistant Goalkeeping Coach.

Mason has amassed nearly two decades of coaching experience, beginning his career in 2007 as an Assistant Centre of Excellence Goalkeeper Coach at Southend United. He later held academy coaching positions at Ipswich Town, Portsmouth, and Brighton & Hove Albion, where he also assisted the first team.

His career further expanded with a stint at the FA, working with England’s women’s team and youth sides, before becoming the Assistant Coach, Director of Goalkeeping, and Set-Piece Specialist at Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. After two seasons in the U.S., Mason returned to the UK and joined Arsenal, before now embarking on his new journey with Chelsea.