Arsenal sporting director Edu is expected to leave and join Nottingham Forest's multi-club group

Arsenal sporting director Edu is expected to leave the north London club and take up a role with the group of teams controlled by Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Contracts have yet to be signed and the exact role has yet to be determined, but there is an agreement in place that will allow Edu to take on a new challenge under the Greek businessman.

As part of the planned move, 46-year-old Edu is expected to take responsibility for expanding the team collection and expanding operations.

Marinakis owns Forest in the Premier League, Olympiacos in Greece and Portugal's Rio Ave.

Sources with knowledge of the situation, who are not authorized to speak publicly, believe Edu will begin working for the 57-year-old as soon as he is released from his duties at the Emirates Stadium.

Marinakis' Olympiacos won the Conference League earlier this year, the first time a Greek team has won a European cup (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

The Brazilian, who was part of the Invincibles team as a player in 2003/04, was appointed Arsenal's first technical director in the summer of 2019. In December that year, he hired fellow former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta as head coach. The Spaniard later switched his role to manager in September 2020.

Edu's role also changed two years later, with the Brazilian becoming Arsenal's first sporting director in November 2022.

Arteta's appointment led to Arsenal winning the FA Cup in 2020 and being just one point away from winning the Premier League title in the 2023/24 season. In September, Arteta received a new three-year contract from Arsenal. Edu said the news was “a very positive and proud moment for everyone at the club and an important part of what we are all working towards”.

After Edu's arrival, Arsenal removed high earners Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe from the books and signed younger players such as Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Ben White.

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Last November, Edu was named Best European Director for 2023 at the Golden Boy Awards, hosted by Italian outlet Tuttosport.

Edu, who also played for Corinthians and Valencia, scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in 127 appearances for Arsenal during his three and a half seasons with the club in the 2000s.

After retiring in 2011, he served as director of football for Corinthians in his native Brazil for five years, in addition to a two-month stint as an advisor to the Iranian national teams in 2014.

Edu then spent three years as coordinator of the Brazilian national team before returning to Arsenal as technical director.

Additional reporting: Mario Cortegana

“Edu’s departure would leave a significant gap at Arsenal”

Analysis by Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas

Edu has played a crucial role in Arsenal's turnaround. He has rebuilt the recruiting department and plays a crucial role in both talent identification and negotiations.

There were huge changes in personnel during his time at Arsenal. Acquiring players like Gabriel and Odegaard at reasonable fees has improved the age profile, value and ability within the Arsenal squad.

Edu's work was recognized with his promotion to athletic director in November 2022, which reportedly gave him oversight of the academy and the women's team.

He also has a good relationship with Arteta. Edu's departure would leave a significant void at Arsenal – but one hopes the work he has done in rebuilding the recruitment department leaves a legacy and with it some continuity.

(Top photo: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)