Edu’s new job finally announced | OneFootball

Edu Gaspar has officially returned to football, taking up the newly created role of global head of football at Nottingham Forest.

Photo via Fabrizio Romano on Twitter

The 47-year-old Brazilian, who resigned from his position at Arsenal in November 2024, will now oversee all football-related activities at Forest, including recruitment, performance, player development and squad strategy.

The move marks a significant step in Forest’s development under Evangelos Marinakis, whose expanding football empire also includes Olympiakos, Rio Ave, along with the possible acquisition of Vasco da Gama.

“I’m truly excited about this new chapter and honoured by the trust placed in me,” said Edu on Monday.

“This project connects deeply with my values around innovation and long-term planning. I look forward to building a global football model that is competitive, sustainable, and aligned with our president’s ambition.”

A double Premier League winner with Arsenal as a player between 2001 and 2005, Edu returned to the club in 2019 as technical director and was later promoted to sporting director in 2022.

He played a pivotal role in reshaping Arsenal’s football operations, recruiting Mikel Arteta, and laying the groundwork for the club’s return to being domestic title challengers.

Prior to his work at Arsenal, Edu held roles as director of football at Corinthians and general coordinator for the Brazil national team, where he was credited with bringing ‘structural clarity’ during a turbulent period for the Seleção.

Photo via Arsenal.com

Forest, who only narrowly missed Champions League qualification last season, are aiming to build on that while developing a sustainable multi-club model. The appointment of Edu is seen as a significant coup and a clear statement of intent.

His return to football in a leading role reaffirms his reputation as one of the most respected sporting executives in the modern game.

Whether he can replicate the impact he had in north London in the East Midlands remains to be seen, but Forest have made a good move that should shift their project forward.