Former Arsenal director of football Edu will serve as a senior advisor to the new owners of League Two club Northampton Town, as reported by BBC Sport.
Advisory Role and New Ownership
The former Brazil midfielder departed his position as Nottingham Forest’s global head of football in September and subsequently joined the board of directors at Bulgarian top-flight club Levski Sofia. A Brazilian consortium featuring former AC Milan and Chelsea forward Alexandre Pato completed a takeover of Northampton last month, with the team currently positioned 23rd in League Two.
During an open forum event, Cobblers co-chairman Joao Xavier explained that Edu would assist the club with sporting questions on an ad hoc basis. Xavier stated that they became friends while Edu was at Nottingham Forest, prompting Xavier to ask for guidance in learning more about English football.
Xavier described Edu as a senior advisor for one of their partners, noting that he acts as an advisor for Levski Sofia and also assists Northampton in navigating sporting questions when requested and needed, rather than on a day-to-day basis. Xavier also emphasized that the club will never be part of a multi-club ownership model and that no other club is included in their project.
Levski Sofia Connection and Background
Levski Sofia is owned by London-based investment firm Gemcorp Capital, which also invests in Sports Alpha Capital—the group that became Northampton’s majority shareholder.
Edu’s previous position at Nottingham Forest drew attention following a disagreement with Nuno Espirito Santo, who was dismissed last September as the first of four managers at Forest during the 2025-26 campaign. Prior to his time at Forest, Edu spent six years at Arsenal, becoming the club’s first sporting director in 2022 after previously winning two Premier League titles and two FA Cups as a midfielder for the Gunners.
During his tenure at Arsenal, he brought in manager Mikel Arteta, who secured the club’s first Premier League title in 22 years last season, and oversaw the majority of the squad’s player recruitment.
Northampton Town prepares for their upcoming fixtures as the new ownership structure and advisory team begin implementing their plans for the club.
Source: BBC Sport
