Nottingham Forest announce appointment of former Arsenal sporting director Edu Gasper as Global Head of Football

Nottingham Forest have officially announced the appointment of Edu Gaspar as their Global Head of Football.

The former Arsenal sporting director takes up a newly established leadership role overseeing football operations for the Reds.

There was a degree of shock among Arsenal fans back in November when Mail Sport broke the news that the former midfielder would be leaving his role at the Emirates.

Edu was responsible for capturing key signings such as Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice and in leading Arsenal's strong performance in recruitment and delivering key players to the club. 

He is credited with playing a big role in Arsenal's return to competitiveness in recent years. 

It was quickly revealed that Edu was poised to link up with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis with discussions ongoing.

And that has now been confirmed with Forest announcing the news on their website.

'Edu brings a wealth of global football experience, both as a former elite player and a highly respected executive,' the club wrote.

'Since transitioning into football management in 2011, Edu has held senior roles at SC Corinthians Paulista, the Brazilian National Team, and most recently, Arsenal FC, where he has earned widespread acclaim for his innovative and strategic approach to modern football operations. Among his playing achievements are:

'During his time with Brazil as General Coordinator, Edu played a pivotal role in helping the national team lift their first Copa América for 12 years in 2019.

'As Global Head of Football, Edu will oversee all football-related functions, including recruitment, performance, squad strategy, and player development.

Edu commented: 'I'm truly excited about this new chapter and honoured by the trust placed in me. This project connects deeply with my values around innovation and long-term planning. I look forward to building a global football model that is competitive, sustainable, and aligned with our President's ambition.'

President Evangelos Marinakis added: 'We are extremely happy to welcome Edu to our football family. His global experience, values, and winning mindset align perfectly with our objective to strengthen and expand our international football platform.'