Mesut Ozil has confirmed that he is joining venture capital fund Class 5 Global as a strategic adviser.
According to Bloomberg, Ozil has joined the San Francisco-based investment company having already been an investor.
The Arsenal midfielder's move into the world of startup investments hints at his future aspirations after his playing career finishes.
“I am excited to shape and work on my post-football career while I am still actively playing football,” Ozil said in a statement.
On the pitch, the German's future at Arsenal remains bleak, with his contract due to expire at the end of the current season.
Ozil has not played for the Gunners since March and was left out of the Gunners' 25-man Premier League squad after the closure of both the international and domestic transfer windows.
The German previously hit out at Arsenal in a statement on social media, slamming a lack of loyalty, but Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has defended his decision to omit the playmaker from his plans.
“What I can tell you that I tried my best, I tried to give him as many opportunities as I could,” Arteta told Sky Sports.
“And that from my own side, I’ve been patient, given him opportunities and been fair.
“He’s a player that belongs to a football club, he’s been a really important player in the last few seasons. I have to respect that, I’m here to make decisions, the best decisions for the team and for the club.
“This is what I try to do and then I have to explain them because people need the reasons and the right answers. I just give mine, whether they believe me or agree with me or not, there’s nothing I can do.
“But I have to put my decisions, with my heart and with my brain to make the right decisions that I believe are good.”
Ozil watched from home as his teammates recorded an impressive 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
A second half penalty from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was enough to seal three points and ended Arsenal's two-match losing streak in the top flight.
Speaking after the game, Arteta hailed his players for their performance.
"I think we merited the points," he told Arsenal.com.
"I'm really happy that after 14 years without a win, we were able to come and do what we've done today. As well I asked the players, 'Please, let's be who we are and play with our identity and our style'.
"I think we did it from the first minute against a really difficult opponent. Obviously they have a lot of quality and we deserved to win the game."
