According to The Athletic, Brazilian Edu has joined Levski Sofia, Bulgaria's defending champions, as one of five new board members, just a week after leaving his position as global football director at Nottingham Forest.

Edu's contract at Nottingham Forest was terminated last week, a development first reported by The Athletic.

In March, The Athletic was first to reveal that Edu was set to depart – the former Arsenal sporting director had not attended a match in person since February.

Edu, 48, joined Nottingham Forest in July 2023 after five years at Arsenal. During his time with the Gunners, he served as the club's first technical director before becoming sporting director.

Edu's remit at Nottingham Forest also extended to other clubs within owner Evangelos Marinakis's football empire, specifically Greek side Olympiacos and Portuguese club Rio Ave.

Levski Sofia won the Bulgarian league title last season, ending Ludogorets's record run of 14 consecutive league titles.

On Monday, Levski Sofia appointed a new five-member board that includes Edu. The club said: "His experience in sporting strategy, recruitment, talent development and organisational building will be a considerable asset as the club works to establish a sustainable and competitive football structure."

The Sofia-based club did not specify Edu's exact role but added that the newly formed board will elect a chairman and chief executive at its next meeting.

Edu's departure from Nottingham Forest is no surprise

Analysis from Nottingham Forest reporter Paul Taylor

Edu had not been seen at City Ground since the start of this year. He last attended a Nottingham Forest home match in February when the team faced Liverpool. In fact, he has effectively not been working at the club since spring.

Therefore, in a sense, the official confirmation of his departure was merely a formality. Regarding the formal end of his brief tenure as global football director, the question was never "if" but "when."

Edu's appointment to oversee recruitment, performance, squad strategy and player development was meant to demonstrate the club's ambitions.

Edu built an impressive reputation through his work at Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest believed this appointment would elevate the club to new heights as they qualified for the Europa League and prepared to return to European competition.

However, the appointment did not work out as hoped for either party. Edu was not involved in the decision to appoint Glasner as head coach in July, and Nottingham Forest is now looking forward to a fresh era under the Austrian manager.

The club has no plans to replace the Brazilian, as his role across Marinakis's three football clubs was essentially tailored to him.

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