Arsenal’s sporting director Edu is expected to leave for a new role within the teams overseen by Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.
While the contracts are pending and the role is still being clarified, an arrangement has been established for Edu to face a new challenge alongside the Greek businessman.
The planned change is expected to involve Edu, 46, taking on the responsibility of expanding the side dish collection and growing the business.
Marinakis owns Forest in the Premier League, Olympiacos in Greece, and Rio Ave in Portugal.
Insiders with information about the situation, who are not allowed to speak publicly, predict that Edu will start working for the 57-year-old right after he finishes his responsibilities at the Emirates Stadium.
The Brazilian, who played on the ‘Invincibles’ team from 2003-04, has been Arsenal’s technical director since summer 2019. In December, he appointed former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta as head coach, and Arteta later assumed the position of manager in September 2020.
Edu’s position shifted two years later, making him Arsenal’s inaugural sporting director in November 2022.
Hiring Arteta resulted in Arsenal’s victory in the FA Cup in 2020 and a close pursuit of the Premier League title in the 2023-24 season. Arsenal extended Arteta’s contract for three years in September, with Edu describing it as a proud and joyous moment for everyone at the club.
Arsenal made changes after Edu joined the team, replacing high earners Aubameyang, Ozil, Lacazette, and Pepe with younger players Odegaard, Saliba, and White.
In November last year, Edu was honored as the Best European Director for 2023 at the Golden Boy awards, which Italian publication Tuttosport presented.
Edu, who previously played for Corinthians and Valencia, scored 15 goals and made eight assists while featuring in 127 matches for Arsenal in the 2000s.
After stepping down in 2011, he held the position of Corinthians’ director of football for five years in his home country of Brazil and briefly advised the Iran national teams in 2014.
Edu then became the coordinator for the Brazil national team for three years before returning to Arsenal as the technical director.
