Edu has been promoted to become Arsenal's first-ever Sporting Director, which will see him undertake a new set of responsibilities alongside his usual tasks from his previous role as Technical Director.
In a club statement, Arsenal confirmed that Edu's role at the club would now be as Sporting Director, a position not associated with the Gunners until now, and it would see him with 'over-arching responsibility' in the clubs academy.
Chief Executive Vinai Venkatesham said: "We are delighted that Edu is recommitting his future to the club that he so clearly loves after making such a positive and critical contribution to our progress in his time with us so far.
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"Edu's promotion formalises his already growing influence over our Academy operations, and we look forward to Per and Edu working together to strengthen the integration between our men's first team and academy yet further.
Edu, a member of our Invincibles squad who re-joined us as Technical Director from the Brazilian FA in the summer of 2019, said: "I'm delighted to have this new role which I see as an evolution and consolidation of the way we've been working. We are making good progress in all areas of our men's, women's and academy, and we are all excited about what can be achieved.
"I look forward to building on the hard work of so many people and helping all of us grow together and enjoy more success, and I am thankful for the trust the club has put in me. We move forward together."
The Gunners have a number of academy graduates already in their first team with Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe and Eddie Nketiah, the names particularly thriving as homegrown talents, and Edu will be hoping to increase the number of young players in the first-team picture who were developed through the academy
Edu's role as Technical Director saw work with the first-team coaching group and the academy while also being significantly involved in player scouting and recruitment.
The statement confirmed Edu is set to be more involved in the clubs academy and will work with current Arsenal academy manager Per Mertesacker with a view to improving the bridge between the first-team set-up and the academy.
The previous responsibilities of the 44-year-old, which includes scouting and then negotiating for possible transfers, will not change, though, and the promotion is simply to incorporate more involvement in the youth set-up.
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