Arsenal throw-in specialist Thomas Gronnemark has accused Kazakhstan Premier League club Aktobe of failing to pay him for work carried out during the team’s February training camp in Turkey.
The Danish coach told ASnews.kz that he spent just over a week working with Aktobe but has still not received the fee stipulated in an agreement signed by both parties. According to unconfirmed information cited by the outlet, the club owes him around $5,000.
Grønnemark said Aktobe’s coaching staff had been pleased with his work, while club officials used his name in their efforts to recruit new players. He also claimed that he used his own contacts to help Aktobe find a set-piece coach.
According to Grønnemark, he agreed to work for considerably less than his usual fee. When he first raised the issue of the unpaid money, club representatives allegedly denied that an agreement existed, prompting him to resend the signed contract.
The specialist said he was then instructed to contact an Aktobe lawyer, who also requested a copy of the agreement. The lawyer subsequently informed him that he was no longer employed by the club.
“Now the club does not respond to any of my messages. It is extremely unprofessional,” Grønnemark said.
The 50-year-old added that he had never previously encountered a club refusing to pay for his services during his 22-year coaching career.
The allegations come less than seven months after Aktobe were transferred into private ownership. The regional authorities sold the club on January 8 for approximately $730,000, with the new ownership promising to improve sporting results, develop youth football and modernise the club’s infrastructure.
Following the privatisation, Aktobe launched an ambitious recruitment campaign. The headline arrival was former Manchester United winger and Euro 2016 winner Nani, who came out of retirement and signed a contract until the end of 2026. The Portuguese star reportedly earns $70,000 per month, although the club has not publicly confirmed that figure.
Aktobe also strengthened their squad with former Ukraine international defender Ivan Ordets, Ukrainian winger Dmytro Topalov, Spanish midfielder Pablo Álvarez and Swedish forward Ajdin Zeljković. All four made their Kazakhstan Premier League debuts alongside Nani in March, with Ordets and Zeljković scoring and Nani providing an assist.
Gronnemark has been working with Arsenal since January 2026, helping Mikel Arteta’s side improve their long, fast and tactical throw-ins. Sky Sports reported that he is employed on a consultancy basis rather than as a full-time member of the coaching staff.
The Dane previously spent five seasons working with Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool between 2018 and 2023 and has also consulted for Brentford, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax.
Aktobe had not publicly responded to Grønnemark’s allegations at the time of publication.