In a surprising development at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest have dismissed Edu Gaspar from his role as global director of football, bringing an abrupt end to the Brazilian executive’s tenure at the Premier League club.
The news was first confirmed by transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano via his official X handle.
Fabrizio’s statement:
It’s over between director Edu Gaspar and Nottingham Forest. The Brazilian director will part ways with Forest very soon, it’s all decided internally. Edu has been big part of Arsenal rebuilding for 5 years, signed at Forest in July 2025 but now set to leave as relationship with ownership is broken.
Edu’s departure comes less than a year after he joined Forest in July 2025, a move that was initially seen as a major statement by the club’s hierarchy.
Softfootball understands that the former Arsenal executive was expected to lead a long-term football project at Forest following his successful spell in North London, where he played a key role in rebuilding Arsenal into Premier League title contenders.
However, Edu’s time at the East Midlands club quickly became turbulent. His period in charge was reportedly marked by a significant turnover of first-team staff and heavy investment in the squad, yet results on the pitch failed to deliver the consistency the club’s leadership had hoped for.
Reports suggest tensions escalated behind the scenes in recent weeks, eventually leading to a dramatic breakdown in relations between Edu and the club’s hierarchy. Sources indicate that he had even been formally instructed to stay away from both the City Ground and the club’s training facilities, signalling a clear collapse in trust between the executive and Forest’s leadership.
The situation also reportedly involved disagreements with the club’s outspoken owner, Vangelis Marinakis, whose management style has frequently drawn attention during Forest’s recent years in English football.
Edu’s departure adds to what has already been a season of major upheaval at Nottingham Forest. In September 2025, the club confirmed the dismissal of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. Shortly afterward, Sean Dyche was appointed on October 21, 2025, but his spell in charge proved short-lived as he was dismissed on February 12, 2026.
Despite the sudden end to his role in England, Edu could soon find a new opportunity. Brazilian giants Flamengo are reportedly monitoring his situation closely as they consider potential replacements for Jose Boto, whose future at the Rio de Janeiro club remains uncertain.
Edu’s experience working in European football and his previous involvement with the Brazil national football team make him an attractive candidate for the position.
For Nottingham Forest, the sudden departure represents yet another shift in direction for a club that has struggled to maintain stability both on and off the pitch. The leadership will now face the challenge of keeping the squad focused on the remainder of the season without a central figure overseeing football operations.
The situation comes at a delicate moment in Forest’s campaign. The club currently sits dangerously close to the relegation zone in the Premier League, meaning the priority has now shifted entirely toward securing survival.
Ironically, the turmoil off the pitch follows an impressive result on it. Forest recently held defending champions Manchester City to a 2–2 draw in a crucial match that could influence the 2025/26 title race. The dropped points were a major setback for City, who have been chasing league leaders Arsenal. With Arsenal securing victory in their own fixture, the North London side have now extended their advantage at the top of the table to seven points.
