The sporting director of Arsenal, Edu, has decided to leave the football club, the British media reported today.
Edu is leaving Arsenal amid interest from a group of clubs controlled by Greek businessman and investor Evangelos Marinakis, Sky reported.
For now, it is not known if Edu has agreed to join that group, which includes Nottingham Forest, Olympiakos and Rio Ave and potentially the fourth club that the group plans to buy in Europe.
Sky reported that the Arsenal leaders were surprised by the decision of 46-year-old Edu to leave the club.
The former Arsenal player was in Brazil on private commitments and returned to London at the end of last week.
Edu has a great relationship with Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta. When the coach extended his contract in September, Edu emphasized his long-term ambitions and there were no indications that he could leave the position of sports director, Sky reported.
In July 2019, Edu came to Arsenal as technical director, and in November 2022, he became the first sporting director in the history of that London club.
He is responsible for the arrivals of Martin Edgor and Declan Rice, but also helped with the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil.
Since Edu joined the club, Arsenal have spent £867m on signings and only Chelsea and Manchester United have spent more in that period - £1,6bn and £1,1bn respectively.
Arsenal have since won the FA Cup and finished second in the Premier League in the last two seasons.
Bonus video:
