Northampton Town confirm Edu as senior advisor after Nottingham Forest exit
Northampton Town have confirmed that former Arsenal and Brazil midfielder Edu will serve as a senior advisor to the club's new owners, stepping back into English football after his departure from Nottingham Forest.
The League Two club, who sit 23rd in the table, announced the appointment after a Brazilian consortium completed its takeover last month. Edu, who won 16 caps for Brazil and played for both Arsenal and Valencia, left his role as global head of football at Forest in September.
An ad-hoc sporting role
Speaking at an open forum event, Cobblers co-chairman Joao Xavier said Edu would help the club navigate "sporting questions" on an ad-hoc basis rather than as a day-to-day operator.
"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.
"The club will never be part of a multi-club ownership, no other club is part of our project."
A Brazilian-led project
The consortium that took over Northampton features former AC Milan and Chelsea forward Alexandre Pato. The deal was first reported on 30 September 2026, when outgoing board members Jim Rosenthal and Mike Wailing were confirmed to step down and become associate directors, with the incoming group promising "sustainable ambition" and a "long-term commitment" to the club.
Edu's advisory remit also extends to Bulgarian top-flight side Levski Sofia, where he has joined the board of directors. Levski are owned by London-based investment firm Gemcorp Capital, an investor in Sports Alpha Capital – the group that has become Northampton's majority shareholder.
From Arsenal glory to Forest turmoil
Edu arrived at Nottingham Forest after six years at Arsenal, where he became the club's first sporting director in 2022. As a player with the Gunners, he won two Premier League titles and two FA Cups. He was instrumental in appointing Mikel Arteta, who delivered Arsenal's first Premier League title in 22 years last season.
His position at Forest came under the spotlight after a falling-out with Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked in September and became the first of four managers at the club during the 2025-26 campaign.