Former Arsenal and Nottingham Forest transfer chief Edu has joined Bulgarian side Levski Sofia, taking a seat on a newly appointed five-person board of directors at the club.
The 48-year-old Brazilian left Forest earlier this month after his contract was terminated following a difficult stint as the club's global head of football.
In a statement, Levski said his experience in sports strategy, selection, talent development and organisational building would be an important asset for the club on its path to a sustainable and competitive football structure.
Levski's exact role for Edu has not been specified. The club said the board of directors would elect a chair and the club's executive director at a forthcoming meeting.
Edu's appointment was approved at Levski's general shareholders' meeting. Three other new board members, Claudio Pracownik, Felipe Berliner and Matthew Cherry, also joined the board alongside current executive director Daniel Borimirov.
From Arsenal to Forest
Edu returned to Arsenal as technical director in 2019 having played 127 times for the club during his playing career. He became sporting director in 2022 and was widely credited for his role in reshaping the squad under manager Mikel Arteta, before announcing his resignation in November 2024.
Edu then joined Nottingham Forest in July 2025. As global head of football, his role also involved overseeing football operations across the wider multi-club structure of owner Evangelos Marinakis, which includes Olympiacos in Greece and Rio Ave in Portugal.
The move did not work out at the City Ground. Forest made several signings that struggled under his watch, and he also fell out with Nuno Espirito Santo, the first of four managers the club had last season.
Reports in March suggested Edu was set to leave Forest, before his exit was confirmed this month. He had attended his last Forest game in February, and reports had emerged that he was told by the Premier League club not to visit either the training ground or the stadium.
Levski's title-winning season
The changes to Levski's hierarchy come despite the club winning their first Bulgarian league title since 2009 last year, a triumph that ended domestic rivals Ludogorets' world record run of 14 successive league titles.
Levski are currently five points clear at the top of the league after nine games. Their squad includes former West Ham United youngster Armstrong Oko-Flex and one-time Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic.
The club will also compete in the Europa League this season after losing to AEK Athens in the final Champions League play-off round.
