Former Arsenal chief Edu takes advisory role at League Two Northampton
Edu, the man who helped build Arsenal's title winning squad as the club's first sporting director, has taken on a senior advisory role with League Two side Northampton Town's new owners.
The former Brazil international, who left Nottingham Forest's global head of football position in September, will assist the Cobblers' new Brazilian ownership group on an ad hoc basis, according to the BBC.
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Northampton, currently 23rd in League Two, were taken over last month by a Brazilian consortium that includes former AC Milan and Chelsea forward Alexandre Pato. Edu has also joined the board of directors at Bulgarian top flight club Levski Sofia, who are owned by London based investment firm Gemcorp Capital. Gemcorp are investors in Sports Alpha Capital, the group that now holds the majority stake at Northampton, which explains the overlapping ties between Edu, Levski Sofia and the Cobblers.
Co-chairman explains Edu's role
Speaking at an open forum event, Northampton co-chairman Joao Xavier confirmed the nature of the arrangement and how the relationship with Edu came about.
“We are very proud to have Alex [Pato] with us and Edu with us too,” Xavier said. “We became friends as he had a role at Nottingham Forest and I asked him to help me learn more about English football.”
“Edu is a senior advisor for one of our partners, acting as an advisor for Levski Sofia and also here, helping us navigate the sporting questions here at the club, not day to day, just when we ask him and when we need him.”
Xavier was also keen to stress that Northampton will not become part of a multi-club network despite the various links between the parties involved. “The club will never be part of a multi-club ownership, no other club is part of our project,” he said.
Edu's journey since leaving Arsenal
Edu spent six years at Arsenal, initially as technical director before becoming the club's first sporting director in 2022. During his time in north London he brought Mikel Arteta to the Emirates Stadium and oversaw the majority of the recruitment that built the squad which won Arsenal's first Premier League title in 22 years last season. As a player, Edu won two Premier League titles and two FA Cups with the Gunners before later winning 16 caps for Brazil.
His move to Nottingham Forest did not run as smoothly. His position came under scrutiny following a disagreement with Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked last September, the first of four managers Forest went through during the 2025-26 campaign.
Edu's current portfolio now spans Levski Sofia and Northampton Town, with his Arsenal pedigree clearly viewed as valuable experience for the Cobblers' new ownership as they look to navigate their early days in League Two.
