Edu to leave Arsenal after five years as sporting director, with legacy of transfers such as Declan Rice and Kai Havertz
By Raj Mahil
Updated 05/11/2024 at 09:01 GMT
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One of the key men in bringing in Mikel Arteta as Arsenal manager, and helping to oversee a successful transformation of the London giants, is leaving. Edu has called time on his five-year era as sporting director. The Brazilian, an ex-Gunners midfielder, signed the likes of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Ben White in big-money deals, as well as landing captain Martin Odegaard.
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Edu has left his role as sporting director of Arsenal after a transformative five-year spell.
The former midfielder enjoyed a successful period with The Gunners during his playing career, lifting the Premier League title twice and FA Cup three times across five seasons.
His current position has not been as trophy-laden - one FA Cup triumph was delivered in 2020 - but his impact on the club, overseeing recruitment, has been keenly felt in an era of significant change.
“This was an incredibly hard decision to make," Edu told Arsenal's official website.
"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.
“I’ve loved working with so many great colleagues across our men’s, women’s and academy teams, especially Mikel [Arteta, manager], 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.”
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Edu arrived four months after the departure of Sven Mislintat, with the German's rollercoaster time in north London seeing him sign the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, both of whom he also brought in for Borussia Dortmund previously.
The Brazilian's remit has included the need to move on many of Mislintat's men - as well as the even higher-profile Mesut Ozil - while rejuvenating the first-team squad with a younger group able to contend for a first Premier League title since Edu was part of 'The Invincibles' in 2003/04.
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Director Josh Kroenke added: "We respect Edu’s decision and thank him for his immense contribution and dedication to drive the club forward.
“Everyone at the club wishes him well. We are all so fond of him and the positive energy he brings to everything and everyone.
“Change and evolution is a part of our club. We remain focused on our strategy and winning major trophies. Our succession plan will reflect this continued ambition.”
Unai Emery - the successor to Edu's iconic former boss, Arsene Wenger - was at the back-end of his troubled stint as manager when the Brazilian first took on the role of technical director in 2019.
The Spanish tactician was soon replaced by Freddie Ljungberg in an interim measure, before Mikel Arteta was championed by Edu and brought in for his first senior management position.
The pair finished eighth in the Premier League in their first full season together, but among their eight incomings were three who remain key parts of the starting XI now: Gabriel, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard.
A season later, Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale were the most important signings as Arsenal narrowly missed out on UEFA Champions League qualification, agonisingly sitting two points behind local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in fourth.
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Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zincehnko were the key arrivals for 2022/23, with the winning mentality of the former Manchester City pair raising dressing-room standards and helping The Gunners become challengers.
Arsenal sat five points clear as late as March, before a collapse. Kai Havertz, David Raya and the record-breaking £100m signing of Declan Rice were thought to be the final pieces in the puzzle.
The trio helped take the title race to the final day, but again Arsenal missed out on glory to City, this time by a mere two points. Arteta's troops racked up 89 in total - the club's second-best return, one point off the unbeaten 2003/04 campaign.
Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino were the new faces through the door this summer, but The Gunners have fallen below their own high standards, currently sitting in fifth spot, seven points behind leaders Liverpool.
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