In a notable change within Arsenal’s management structure, reports indicate that Sporting Director Edu Gaspar is expected to leave the North London club. This development comes as a surprise, given Edu’s crucial role in the club’s recent revival.
A report from the Daily Maill indicates that Edu has been in talks with Arsenal’s senior management regarding his future at the club but has ultimately chosen to move on. The reasons and timing of his departure are still uncertain, although reports of an upcoming “reshuffle” in Arsenal’s leadership hint at possible changes in management roles.
The former Gunners midfielder has been responsible for the club’s fine work in the transfer market in recent years. His work alongside Mikel Arteta has led to him being widely thought of as one of the leading sporting directors in football.
Edu’s role at Arsenal.
Edu rejoined Arsenal in 2019 after making 127 appearances under Arsene Wenger. His efforts in the transfer market have been instrumental in securing key players for the club, including Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.
The Brazilian has played a central role in all of the Gunners’ signings in recent years. In club videos, he is consistently the first to greet new players outside the Sobha Training Centre, joining them for photos alongside Arteta.
His appointment in 2019 came because of his understanding of the club, having been part of the Invincibles team under Wenger. Then director of football Raul Sanllehi said: “We’re very excited that Edu is joining the team. He has great experience and technical football knowledge and most importantly is a true Arsenal man.
“He understands the club and what we stand for to our millions of fans around the world.”
His reported departure will come as a shock for supporters with a club announcement detailing the reasons behind the decision hoped for.
Edu has been open about the challenges faced in rebuilding the squad and his strategic approach, as shared in an interview with Men In Blazers over the summer. He spoke candidly about the difficult decisions required to lay a new foundation at Arsenal. “When you live in the football world, sometimes you have to make decisions even if they are not popular,” Edu said, describing the factors he considers when shaping the squad, such as players’ age, salaries, and performance.
He emphasised the importance of a sustainable approach that prioritises younger players with a strong future potential over established stars with high wages who may no longer contribute at the desired level.
Edu’s strategy has also included making “unpopular decisions” regarding veteran players to promote younger talent, which, he said, was necessary for a faster turnaround. “When I came to Arsenal, I saw almost everyone was over 26, 27, on big salaries, and not performing. You have to make decisions.
You can go strong and try to let those players go, or your project might take seven, eight, or even nine years,” he explained, stressing the need to align the squad’s financial and sporting balance to facilitate long-term success.
The news of the sporting director’s departure is a major setback for Mikel Arteta and the club, which has experienced a resurgence since the 2022-23 season. The Gunners have been competing closely with Manchester City in the Premier League title race over the past few seasons, with much of the success attributed to Edu’s recruitment strategy.