Arsenal legend Tony Adams has turned down a chance to help coach the club's under-18s, a club source has told ESPN FC.
Adams had been in talks with Arsenal about being an assistant with the under-18s next season as the club tried to bring back one of its strongest ever leaders, but the former centre-back turned down the position -- a second blow to the team's academy after fellow former great Thierry Henry also left the academy.
Reports said Adams was set to take up a lucrative offer in China instead as head of youth development at Chongqing Lifan.
Pictures of Adams were posted on Chinese social media site Weiboo appearing to show the former Gunners captain meeting with staff at the Chongqing stadium.
Tony Adams has been in China now. should be confirmed as the Head of Youth Development role for Chongqing Lifan pic.twitter.com/aIHx2o8sys
- RYO_cleverfish (@RYO_cleverfish) July 23, 2016
Henry had been in talks about a similar job but opted to keep his role as a TV pundit for Sky Sports and said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had told him he could not do both.
It means the Arsenal academy players miss out on having two of the club's all-time greats around to learn from, although former "Invincible" Freddie Ljungberg will stay in his role helping out the under-15s.