Arsenal stunned as Edu AGREES to join Nottingham Forest in triple-your-money deal dealing huge blow to Mikel Arteta

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.

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.

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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.

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."

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.  

"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."