Edu is no longer the sporting director of Arsenal.
Before being elevated to sporting director in November 2022, the Brazilian returned to the Gunners in the summer of 2019 as technical director.
Edu, 46, earned two league titles while playing for Arsenal from 2001 to 2005, including one while he was a member of the 2003–04 “Invincibles” squad.
“This was an incredibly hard decision to make,” Edu said on Monday.
“Now it is time to pursue a different challenge. Arsenal will always remain in my heart. I wish the club and its supporters only good things and all the very best.”
The former midfielder had a significant role in luring manager Mikel Arteta to the team, and by the end of Arteta’s first season in command, Arsenal had won the FA Cup.
Working with the Spaniard, Edu has been largely credited with helping to turn the team back into legitimate title contenders, even though they haven’t won any significant hardware since.
Edu added: “Arsenal has given me the opportunity to work with so many amazing people and the chance to be a part of something so special in the club’s history.
“I’ve loved working with so many great colleagues across our men’s, women’s and academy teams, especially Mikel, who has become a great friend.”
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The Premier League champions Manchester City were ahead of Arsenal at the end of the previous two seasons.
Although the addition of players like David Luiz and Willian had less of an effect, Edu’s time has seen the arrival and development of captain Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Gabriel, Gabriel Jesus, and Declan Rice.
Edu’s appointment resulted in the signing of every member of last Saturday’s starting lineup but academy product Bukayo Saka.
Following the departure of CEO Vinai Venkatesham at the end of the previous season, Richard Garlick took over as managing director at the start of this season, marking a change off the field at Arsenal.
James King will also be named director of football operations by the Gunners.
King used to work for the team, but he left to become general counsel for the Professional Footballers’ Association.
The BBC contacted Arsenal, but they chose not to comment on the matter.
