Edu leaves Nottingham Forest after contract termination

The former Arsenal sporting director Edu has left Nottingham Forest after his contract was terminated, according to Goal.

The 48-year-old Brazilian joined Nottingham Forest just over a year ago as the club’s global head of football. However, his involvement had effectively ended in recent months. Edu had not attended a Nottingham Forest match since February and had not been seen at either the stadium or the training ground since the beginning of March.

His departure follows criticism of his transfer policy during his time at the club. Despite significant spending in the transfer market, several high-profile signings failed to make a substantial impact on the team, including Omari Hutchinson, Douglas Luiz and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Nottingham Forest do not intend to appoint a direct replacement for Edu. Football director George Syrianos has been given expanded responsibilities following Edu’s removal.

Edu’s exit brings an end to his time at a club he joined after leaving Arsenal. He had worked at Arsenal as sporting director since 2022, before moving to Nottingham Forest slightly more than 12 months ago.

Although Edu had formally remained part of Nottingham Forest’s structure, his absence had been increasingly apparent. He had stopped attending matches in February and was no longer appearing at the club’s stadium or training base from early March.

His recruitment strategy had come under scrutiny because of the scale of the club’s expenditure and the limited influence of some of the players signed. Omari Hutchinson, Douglas Luiz and Oleksandr Zinchenko were among those whose performances did not provide the level of impact expected after their arrivals.

The club has opted to manage the change internally rather than search for a replacement with the same responsibilities. That decision means George Syrianos will take on a broader role as Nottingham Forest’s football director.

Edu previously held a senior position at Arsenal, where he had been sporting director from 2022. His move to Nottingham Forest made him responsible for the club’s global football operation, but his tenure has now ended with the termination of his contract.

Goal reported the departure, which marks the conclusion of Edu’s association with Nottingham Forest after a period in which the club’s transfer activity attracted both significant investment and criticism.