Edu, who previously held roles at Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, has been appointed to the board of directors at Bulgarian football club Levski Sofia. The 48-year-old Brazilian departed Nottingham Forest earlier this month after his contract was terminated.
Levski Sofia announced the appointment as part of a restructuring that includes a new five-person board. The club stated that Edu's "experience in sports strategy, selection, talent development and organisational building will be an important asset for the club on its path to a sustainable and competitive football structure." His specific title and responsibilities within the board are to be determined at a future meeting, where a chair and executive director will be elected.
Edu's inclusion on the board was approved at the club's general shareholders' meeting. He joins fellow new board members Claudio Pracownik, Felipe Berliner, and Matthew Cherry, alongside current executive director Daniel Borimirov.
This move comes after a successful period for Levski Sofia, who won their first Bulgarian league title in 15 years in the previous season, ending a dominant run by rivals Ludogorets. The club will participate in the Europa League this season.
Edu returned to Arsenal in 2019 as technical director and was promoted to sporting director in 2022. He resigned from Arsenal in November 2024. He then joined Nottingham Forest in July 2025 as global head of football, overseeing football operations within owner Evangelos Marinakis's multi-club network. However, his tenure at Forest was reportedly marked by several unsuccessful signings and a strained relationship with then-manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Reports in March indicated his departure was imminent, which was confirmed this month. He had reportedly been asked not to visit the Forest training ground or stadium in the weeks leading up to his exit.
Levski Sofia currently leads the Bulgarian league standings by five points after nine matches. The squad includes former West Ham player Armstrong Oko-Flex and ex-Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic.