Nottingham Forest have parted ways with global head of football Edu, bringing an end to a turbulent spell of just over a year at the City Ground. The former Arsenal midfielder had been absent from matchday duties since February, and his exit had long been anticipated, with his contract understood to have been terminated by mutual agreement rather than a fresh dismissal.
Edu's time in charge of football operations at Forest was marked by instability from an early stage. His relationship with then-manager Nuno Espirito Santo deteriorated significantly before Nuno was sacked last September, becoming the first of four managerial departures at the club during a chaotic season. At the time of his dismissal, Nuno suggested there had been internal friction behind the scenes, indicating that his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis had shifted in a way that made his position untenable.
Forest do not intend to replace Edu directly. Instead, his responsibilities will be absorbed by the club's chief football officer, George Syrianos, who will now take on a broader remit overseeing football operations at the City Ground.
Edu had joined Forest in July 2025 in a role that extended beyond the English club alone. His duties also covered Greek outfit Olympiacos and Portuguese side Rio Ave, both of which are likewise owned by Marinakis, reflecting the interconnected nature of the Greek businessman's football investments. The appointment had been seen as an attempt to bring structure and continuity across Marinakis' network of clubs, but the reality at Forest proved far more chaotic than anticipated.
Before arriving in Nottingham, Edu had spent six years at Arsenal, where he rose to become the club's first-ever sporting director in 2022. During his time at the Emirates, he played a pivotal role in shaping the club's recruitment strategy and was instrumental in bringing Mikel Arteta in as head coach. That decision would eventually pay dividends, with Arteta guiding Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 22 years last season, a triumph that came after Edu had already left for Forest. Edu's own playing career included a spell as an Arsenal midfielder, during which he won two Premier League titles and two FA Cups with the Gunners, giving him a strong emotional and professional connection to the north London club before his switch into football administration.
His departure from Forest adds to a wider period of upheaval in the club's boardroom and football department. It comes shortly after former Olympiacos vice-president Theodore Giannikos was confirmed as the club's new chief executive. Giannikos steps into a role vacated by Lina Souloukou, who stepped down from her position at the City Ground at the conclusion of last season.
The combination of managerial changes, executive reshuffles, and now Edu's exit paints a picture of a club still searching for stability under Marinakis' ownership. With four different managers having taken charge last season alone, questions remain over how Forest intend to build a coherent footballing structure moving forward. The decision to fold Edu's duties into Syrianos' existing role, rather than seek an external replacement, suggests the club may be looking to streamline decision-making rather than bring in another high-profile football executive in the short term.
As Forest look to steady the ship both on and off the pitch, attention will now turn to how Syrianos manages the expanded responsibilities and whether the club can finally establish the kind of consistency that has eluded them since Edu's arrival just over a year ago.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.