Edu ‘to leave Arsenal’ as Mikel Arteta ally quits sporting director role

Edu is leaving his post as Arsenal sporting director (Image: Getty)

Arsenal sporting director Edu is reportedly set to leave the north London club.

The Brazilian has been Mikel Arteta‘s right-hand man since the manager’s appointment in 2019. He became Arsenal‘s technical director months before Arteta arrived and transitioned to the sporting director role three years later.

Edu has played a key part in Arsenal‘s successful recruitment strategy under Arteta. David Raya, Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard have all been smash hits since signing for the Gunners, who also pipped Manchester City to Declan Rice‘s signature last year.

According to The Daily Mail, Edu has taken the decision himself to leave the Emirates Stadium. Changes to responsibility areas among senior figures at the club may have played their part in his departure, though the specifics are currently unclear and more light is expected to be shed on the situation over the next 24 hours.

Arteta is certain to be asked about Edu’s predicament during his press conference on Tuesday, the day before Arsenal play AC Milan at the San Siro in a mouth-watering Champions League showdown.

Edu has been a towering figure during Arteta’s time at the club, and he is widely considered to be one of the best sporting directors in world football.

Mikel Arteta (left) has worked with Edu (right) throughout his spell at the Emirates (Image: Getty)

The 46-year-old spent five seasons at Arsenal as a midfield player, starring alongside the likes of Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira during the ‘Invincibles’ season and becoming a full Brazilian international.

Arsenal legend Martin Keown, who shared a dressing room with Edu, talked up his technical director appointment in 2019. “He understands this role and he understands the expectancy at Arsenal,” explained the former centre-back.

“He cannot really affect it on the training ground, but he will be able to address things with the processes at the club. He is a great guy who was also greatly underestimated, to be honest. It was a big loss when he left the football club because there was an element of class to him. I am pleased that the club has recognised that.”

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Edu played 127 games for Arsenal before spending four years at Valencia and returning to Brazilian club Corinthians, who gave him his senior breakthrough in 1998.

Before joining up with the Gunners in retirement, Edu served as Corinthians’ director of football, assisted Iran boss Carlos Quieroz during the 2014 World Cup, and spent three years as Brazil’s general coordinator.