Arsenal have announced that Edu has stepped down from his position as the club's sporting director. Edu, who was part of Arsenal's Invincibles squad during the 2003-04 season, has been with the club in a management capacity since July 2019. Initially joining as technical director, he was elevated to sporting director in November 2022.
Edu played a significant role in assisting Mikel Arteta, contributing to Arsenal's transformation into Premier League title contenders. His efforts were instrumental in supporting Arteta and shaping the team's competitive edge. Despite this success, reports surfaced on Monday suggesting Edu's departure, with speculation linking him to Evangelos Marinakis' football organisation. Marinakis owns Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos.

The announcement follows Arsenal's recent 1-0 defeat by Newcastle United, which left them seven points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. The team is set to face Inter in the Champions League on Wednesday.
In a statement on Arsenal's website, Edu expressed his sentiments about leaving: "This was an incredibly hard decision to make," he said. "Arsenal has given me the opportunity to work with so many amazing people and the chance to be a part of something so special in the club's history."
Edu further shared his appreciation for his colleagues: "It has been a special journey. 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." He concluded by stating his intention to pursue new challenges while maintaining a deep affection for Arsenal.
Edu's departure marks a significant change for Arsenal as they continue their campaign both domestically and in Europe. His contributions have left a lasting impact on the club's development and future prospects.