Nottingham Forest have confirmed the departure of sporting director Edu after just over a year at the City Ground. The club terminated his contract this week ending a turbulent spell marked by managerial instability and a relegation battle last season.
Edu has not attended a Forest match since February and has been absent from the stadium and training ground since early March. His responsibilities as chief football officer have been assumed by George Syrianos. The club does not intend to appoint a direct replacement for the former Arsenal executive, who arrived in July 2025 following Lina Souloukou's exit from the chief executive role.
The catalyst for Edu's departure appears rooted in internal tensions that surfaced early in his tenure. His relationship with then-manager Nuno Espirito Santo deteriorated significantly. Nuno hinted at these issues before his own sacking in September 2025, stating his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had changed. That falling out became the trigger for Nuno's exit, the first of four managerial changes Forest endured last season.
Edu's recruitment decisions, which included signings like Omari Hutchinson, Douglas Luiz, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, failed to deliver consistent results. The team struggled throughout the campaign, ultimately fighting to avoid relegation. This contrasted sharply with the previous season under Nuno, where Forest had competed for a Champions League spot.
After Nuno's departure, the club entered a period of extreme instability. Ange Postecoglou was appointed but lasted only 39 days in charge. Sean Dyche replaced him but departed in February. Vitor Pereira then took over before being replaced by current head coach Oliver Glasner, the former Crystal Palace manager. This chaotic backdrop saw another key figure, Ross Wilson, depart for Newcastle United in October last year.
Forest's current campaign under Glasner has begun with a slow start. They sit 16th in the Premier League with 2 points from three games, their recent form reading DDL. They have scored 2 goals and conceded 3, leaving them with a -1 goal difference and already 7 points behind leaders Manchester City. Fans can track the team's progress in the standings.
Edu arrived at Nottingham Forest after a six-year stint at Arsenal, where he made a significant impact. He joined the Gunners as their first technical director in 2019 and was instrumental in hiring Mikel Arteta as head coach that December. Promoted to Arsenal's first sporting director in November 2022, he resigned in November 2024. Arteta subsequently delivered the club's first Premier League title in 22 years.
As a player, Edu was a member of Arsenal's legendary 2003-04 'Invincibles' squad, winning two Premier League titles and two FA Cups. His executive career began with five years as Corinthians' director of football in Brazil. He also served as the Iran national team's advisor for two months in 2014 and coordinated the Brazil national team for three years.
With Theodore Giannikos appointed chief executive last week and George Syrianos now handling football operations, Forest's structure is settling. The immediate focus is on improving results on the pitch. The team faces a quick turnaround, with an away fixture against Aston Villa scheduled for September 12th. Villa currently sit 17th in the table, making it a significant early-season encounter. The full schedule is available on our fixtures page.
Oliver Glasner will be eager to secure his first win as Forest boss to move the team up from their lowly league position. The club's player roster and current statistics can be viewed on the squad and stats pages. Forest's next match at Villa Park presents a critical opportunity to build momentum after a difficult period of off-field change.
