The former Arsenal sporting director has been linked with another English club since leaving Nottingham Forest
The former sporting director of “Arsenal”, Edu, has been appointed as the new chief advisor to the representative of League 2, “Northampton Town”. The appointment comes just a month after the club was taken over by a Brazilian consortium that included former forward Alexandre Pato.
Edu left Arsenal in November 2024 and in the summer of 2025 took up the role of global head of football at the group of clubs owned by Evangelos Marinakis, including Nottingham Forest. He left after just over a year and is now on the board of directors with Levski Sofia.
Speaking at an open forum on Thursday, Northampton co-chairman Joao Xavier confirmed the link with Edu. “We are proud to have Alex [Pato] with us and Edu with us,” he said.
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“We became friends because he had a role at Nottingham Forest and I asked him to help me learn more about English football.
“Edu is a senior advisor to one of our partners, acting as a consultant for Levski Sofia, helping us manage sporting issues at the club not every day, but when we ask him and when we need him.”
The link between the new owners and Sofia comes as the Bulgarian club’s owners have invested in the Cobblers’ new shareholder, Sports Alpha Capital. But any concerns that a multi-club model might cause have been alleviated by Xavier.
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“The club will never be part of a multi-club ownership,” he said. “No club is part of our project.”
Edu spent 6 years at Nottingham Forest and became the club’s first sporting director in 2022. He was instrumental in the arrival of Mikel Arteta and oversaw the recruitment of most of last season’s Premier League-winning squad.
The Brazilian also played for Arsenal for three and a half years between 2002 and 2005. During this time he won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups.
Northampton are currently 23rd in the League II table. They return to action on Saturday when they host Colchester United (kick-off 12.30pm).