Edu Gaspar, Arsenal’s sporting director, has officially resigned from his position to join Nottingham Forest’s multi-club network. The Brazilians departure comes as a shock to many Arsenal fans considering his role in the club’s recent resurgence.
Edu, who is also a former Arsenal player under the legendary manager Arsene Wenger, has been a significant presence within the club. During his time there, he became involved in the rebuilding project with manager Mikel Arteta, transforming Arsenal into one of the most consistently top-performing clubs in England, especially with his input in the transfer market where his ability to spot and recruit talented players proved exceptional.
In an official statement, Edu expressed his gratitude to the club for the opportunity to work with so many incredible people and be part of something special in the club’s history. He described his time at Arsenal as a special journey and thanked Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke, Tim Lewis, and Lord Harris for their support.
He also acknowledged the strong bond he formed with Arteta who he described as a great friend. While acknowledging the difficulty of his decision, Edu cited a need for a new challenge as his reason for moving on, affirming his enduring affection for Arsenal and wishing the club and its supporters the best. He wrote,
“It has been a special journey and I thank Stan, Josh, Tim and Lord Harris for the support they’ve given me. I’ve loved working with so many great colleagues across our men’s, women’s and academy teams, especially Mikel, who has become a great friend.
“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 new role will see him working with Evangelos Marinakis to oversee Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos, and Rio Ave. His primary task will be to expand Marinakis’ growing football empire by adding more clubs to the network.
