Latest
ED-ING OVER
Arsenal stunned as Edu AGREES to join Nottingham Forest in triple-your-money deal dealing huge blow to Mikel Arteta
Edu could be set for a major job title at another Premier League club
ARSENAL have been left shocked by Edu's decision to walk away and join Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis' footballing empire.
Mikel Arteta will lose his closest boardroom ally at The Emirates - with the sporting director's decision to join Marinakis stunning many.
3
3
3
The Greek billionaire, who also owns Olympiacos and Rio Ave, has trebled Edu's Arsenal wage and plans to give him a role as chief executive across all clubs.
It is expected that the group will grow over the coming year following this surprise appointment, with Italian club Monza mooted as a potential target.
Marinakis has been pursuing Edu since the summer, with talks having reopened in recent weeks.
The 46-year-old had been in Brazil last month due to personal reasons but returned to London last week.
Edu has been a transformational presence at the Emirates but is thought to be attracted by the increased power the role on offer would give.
The former Gunners midfielder is manager Mikel Arteta's strongest ally at the club, having stuck by him through a troubled start at times to take Arsenal back to the top.
Arteta and Edu have worked together to transform the culture and playing squad in North London.
After joining as technical director in 2019, the former midfielder was promoted to sporting director in 2022 and has helped the club challenge for the title once again.
Most read in Football
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Players learning the news of Edu's departure on Monday morning were said to be shocked by the departure of their sporting director.
The former Brazil international, who worked for the Brazilian Federation before returning to North London, has become one of the elite sporting directors in European football after landing signings such as Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and William Saliba.
'Summer recruitment A lot of things happening', says Arsenal transfer chief Edu live on TNT Sports as Gooners go wild
Last year he was named Best European Director at the Golden Boy Awards.
The Brazilian, part of Arsenal's Invincibles squad under Arsene Wenger, has developed a close relationship with a number of the current players.
He described the move as an "incredibly hard decision to make."
Edu added in a statement: "Now it is time to pursue a different challenge.
"Arsenal will always remain in my heart. I wish the club and its supporters only good things and all the very best."
Edu's 35 signings ranked
EDU oversaw the arrival of 35 players during his time at the club.
Some worked out better than others.
Here, SunSport ranks them from worst to best...
35. Nicolas Pepe (£72m)
34. Willian (Free)
33. David Luiz (£8m)
32. Runar Alex Runarsson (£2m)
31. Mat Ryan (Loan)
30. Fabio Vieira (£34m)
29. Neto (Loan)
28. Marquinhos (£3m)
27. Nuno Tavares (£8m)
26. Matt Turner (£5m)
25. Cedric Soares (Free)
24. Albert Sambi Lokonga (£17m)
23. Pablo Mari (£5m)
22. Dani Ceballos (Loan)
21. Raheem Sterling (Loan)
20. Jakub Kiwior (£17m)
19. Jorginho (£12m)
18. Riccardo Calafiori (£42m)
17. Kieran Tierney (£25m)
16. Takehiro Tomiyasu (£20m)
15. Mikel Merino (£28m)
14. Aaron Ramsdale (£24m)
13. Oleksandr Zinchenko (£30m)
12. Gabriel Jesus (£45m)
11. Kai Havertz (£65m)
10. Jurrien Timber (£38m)
9. Gabriel Martinelli (£6m)
8. David Raya (£27m)
7. Leandro Trossard (£20m)
6. Thomas Partey (£45m)
5. Ben White (£50m)
4. Gabriel Magalhaes (£27m)
3. Declan Rice (£105m)
2. William Saliba (£27m)
1. Martin Odegaard (£30m)
Click here to read more Arsenal stories.
While there has always been an acceptance at Arsenal that the director would move on at some point, many believed it would be for a large European club and after a trophy had been won.
Arsenal must now decide whether to directly replace Edu or restructure their current leadership team, spearheaded on the footballing side by Richard Garlick and Tim Lewis.
Premier League title rivals Manchester City are making their own change upstairs this summer, with director of football Txiki Begiristain leaving at the end of the season.
They have already moved to land sought after Hugo Viana from Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon.
Marinakis has enjoyed immense success in charge of Forest, who are currently third in the Prem table, and Olympiacos, who became the first-ever Greek club to win a European trophy last season.
In a statement on Monday night, Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke said: "We respect Edu’s decision and thank him for his immense contribution and dedication to drive the club forward.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"Everyone at the club wishes him well. We are all so fond of him and the positive energy he brings to everything and everyone.
"Change and evolution is a part of our club. We remain focused on our strategy and winning major trophies. Our succession plan will reflect this continued ambition."
How Edu made Arsenal great again
By Jack Rosser
EDU GASPAR has been on a mission to 'Make Arsenal Great Again' ever since returning to the club he played for 2019.
After a few wobbles early on - signing Nicolas Pepe will never reflect well - the Brazilian has, alongside Mikel Arteta, been crucial in the club's transformation.
Arteta was brought in as the new manager within months of Edu's return to North London and the former midfielder stuck by the boss when the pressure was on two years into the job.
Instead of making the knee-jerk decision to change manager again, the former Brazil international, joined forces with Arteta to institute a huge change of culture at The Emirates.
Overpaid toxic influences such as Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were purged from the dressing room and Arsenal set about adding strong characters.
Edu finally got the club competing in the transfer market again, with Martin Odegaard an outstanding capture for the club. In landing Declan Rice ahead of Manchester City last year Arsenal showed they couple compete for and sign some of Europe's biggest talents once more.
Arsenal have become one of the most attractive clubs in the Premier League and one of the most efficient in the market.
While there have been big deals for the likes of Rice and Calafiori, there have been smart ones too - picking out value where others have lost hope.
Kai Havertz appeared as a surprising signing after a dreadful season at Chelsea. But after Edu gave the German space and support to rebuild his confidence he has developed into a fine asset for Arteta.
Edu does not only have a tight relationship with Arteta - who many fans will be glad signed a new deal before the sporting director's departure - but the players too, always ready and waiting to check in, keep them going.
London Colney and The Emirates will feel a very different place for all of them without Edu.
Topics