The Brazilian will serve as a senior adviser to Sports Alpha Capital, the investment group that completed its takeover of Northampton Town in September. Co-chairman João Xavier confirmed the arrangement during a supporters’ forum, explaining that Edu would be available when the owners need advice on sporting decisions.
Xavier said their relationship began while Edu was working at Nottingham Forest. He had asked the former Brazil international to help him understand English football, and that connection has since developed into an informal advisory role at Northampton.
“We are very proud to have Alex [Pato] with us and Edu with us too,” Xavier said.
“We became friends as he had a role at Nottingham Forest and I asked him to help me learn more about English football.
“Edu is a senior advisor for one of our partners, acting as an advisor for Levski Sofia and also here, helping us navigate the sporting questions here at the club, not day to day, just when we ask him and when we need him.
“The club will never be part of a multi-club ownership - no other club is part of our project.”
Edu left his position as Nottingham Forest’s global head of football in September. His time at the City Ground had come under scrutiny following a disagreement with manager Nuno Espírito Santo, who was dismissed last September. Forest went through four managers during the 2025-26 campaign.
Before moving to Forest, Edu spent six years at Arsenal. He became the club’s first sporting director in 2022, having previously won two Premier League titles and two FA Cups as a midfielder for the Gunners.
In his executive role, Edu helped shape Arsenal’s recruitment and worked alongside manager Mikel Arteta as the club assembled the squad that won the Premier League last season. He has since joined the board at Bulgarian club Levski Sofia, where Gemcorp Capital is the owner.
Gemcorp is also an investor in Sports Alpha Capital, which acquired a 70% shareholding in Northampton Town Ventures Limited, the company that owns the majority of the League Two club. The takeover was completed in September, with the new ownership saying the transaction would leave Northampton debt-free.
Northampton were relegated from League One last season after finishing bottom of the table. Their new owners have spoken about moving the club forward, but Xavier stressed that Edu’s contribution would be occasional advice rather than a day-to-day football appointment.
The distinction matters: Edu is not being installed as Northampton’s director of football. Instead, the club’s owners will be able to call on his experience when they need an outside perspective on sporting questions.