Edu joins shock Europa League team days after Arsenal cult hero was finally sacked by Nottingham Forest

EDU GASPAR has started a new adventure with Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia just a week after his contract with Nottingham Forest was finally terminated. The former Arsenal sporting director, and more recently Forest Global Head of Football, has taken up a place on Levski’s new five-person board of directors – confirmed The Athletic. Edu worked at Arsenal for five-and-a-half years between 2019 and 2024 as the club’s sporting director Credit: Alamy Edu held a key position at Arsenal and was instrumental in signing Rice in the summer of 2023 Credit: Getty It comes just a week after Forest officially ended the Brazilian’s short-lived spell at the City Ground. Edu, 48, had been appointed by Forest in July 2025 after five years at Arsenal, where he first worked as technical director before becoming sporting director. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! His latest job in the Bulgarian capital will immediately bring a familiar challenge as Levski are in Europa League action on Thursday night when they host Austrian side RB Salzburg. The Bulgarian outfit will then continue their European campaign through the league phase, which culminates at the end of January with a trip to England to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Edu knows the Europa League well after working at Forest last season during their run to the semi-finals. Forest won the first leg of their last four clash with Aston Villa 1-0 at the City Ground, but their European dream was brutally ended the following week as Unai Emery‘s side stormed to a 4-0 victory at Villa Park. Levski won the Bulgarian league title last season, ending Ludogorets’ astonishing run of 14 consecutive championships. Edu is among five new board members as they look to build a sustainable and competitive football structure. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Edu only lasted a year at Forest before swiftly moving onto a new challenge Credit: Getty Forest fell short in the Europa League in Edu’s only full season working at the club Credit: Getty The Sofia club have not yet specified exactly what Edu’s role will be, with the newly formed board set to elect both a chairman and executive director at its next meeting. Levski commented: “His experience in sports strategy, selection, talent development and organizational building will be an important asset for the club on its path to a sustainable and competitive football structure.” Comment now