Crystal Palace head of sports medicine makes move to London rivals Arsenal

Crystal Palace head of sports medicine Zafar Iqbal is joining Arsenal ahead of next season.

Having served at Palace for over eight years, Iqbal previously worked in medical roles at Leyton Orient, Tottenham Hotspur, and Liverpool.

Well-respected Iqbal will leave his role at Selhurst Park, where he has spent eight years, this summer to take up a similar position at the Emirates Stadium.

The transition is expected to take place at the end of the season, following the completion of Iqbal's notice period.

During his tenure at Palace, the club successfully maintained its position in the Premier League and even secured promotion from the Championship through the play-offs in 2013.

Mail Sport reported on Tuesday that Arsenal were closing in on the appointment of a new head of medicine.

A Spaniard medical practitioner was among the candidates seriously considered.

But Iqbal, who has also worked at Liverpool and Tottenham, will assume the lead role at Arsenal from next season.

Arsenal have been undergoing a process of appointing a new head medic following Gary O’Driscoll’s departure for Manchester United earlier this year, a move motivated by his desire to be closer to his family in the north-west.

Arsenal's upcoming fixture is against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, while Crystal Palace drew 1-1 with Brighton at Selhurst Park on Thursday.