Arsenal’s Edu seals top sporting director rank among Premier League rivals amid latest transfer
Just over 18 months ago it was very difficult to see myself writing something along these lines. However, sitting here on the eve of a brand new season I can say with some confidence that I firmly believe Edu Gaspar is currently the best sporting director in the Premier League.
The Gunners were 11th when he was united with then head coach-turned-manager Mikel Arteta, and the pair have worked together to construct a squad that in just over two full seasons became a side that would take on Man City for the title with aims of doing so again in this with an even better squad.
Just over 18 months ago Arsenal finished the 2022 January window having not made a single signing and instead, all the focus was on resolving the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang situation. Edu has worked hard to bring Arteta’s vision combined with his principles to reality and supported him with tough choices, even when he has not always fully agreed.
“It wasn’t easy when Mikel came to me talking about Aubameyang. But you have to really be sensible and say yes, he’s right and we have to support him.” These were Edu’s words during episode 5 of the Amazon All or Nothing series when talking about the decision which saw the club captain depart.
“That’s a big challenge to make people understand what’s the best for the club. Because all they see, they see a game.
“What we have to see is a big picture. What’s the best for the future of this football club?”
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Being a former player of the club, Edu gets it. Yes, individuals that haven’t got that same association with a club can be great sporting directors but Arsenal have something which in turn takes things to another level, and that’s a true long-term burning passion for this football club.
You get that sense when you speak with him. I spoke to Edu myself after the game against Newcastle last season at St. James’ Park and the excitement in his voice when discussing Jakub Kiwior’s performance who he had signed only months prior was infectious.
Ahead of the summer, there were two main threads that Edu had to deliver on. He had to ensure Arsenal got their priority transfer targets and he needed to improve the reputation of the club from a selling perspective.
Before Arsenal left for their tour of the United States, the first had been achieved. Kai Havertz, a somewhat opportunistic signing fulfilled Arteta’s desire to reinforce his forward options with something different and although there are question marks over the move, Edu backed his manager and got the deal done at a price £10million below Chelsea’s initial asking price.
William Saliba’s injury was extremely damaging last season; it was effectively the key reason behind the Gunners’ title challenge collapse and that could not be allowed to happen again. The acquisition of Jurrien Timber not only covers this with his ability to play across the back four and give Ben White scope to return centrally, but also the Dutchman is the perfect Arteta-esque profile of player and has proven it this summer.
The initial €60million (£51.9million) asking price that Ajax wanted eventually, with negotiations involving Edu, came down to a price below the £40million-mark. A brilliant bargain of a move in what is an inflated market at levels we’ve never seen before.
Then came the big one: Declan Rice. The player that Arteta had wanted above all others and who Edu, with the backing of the club’s owners and the help of his team, needed to fend off competition from Manchester City to get a record-breaking deal on multiple levels done.
Just look at the chaos that Liverpool and Chelsea find themselves in with the Moises Caicedo fiasco or Tottenham with the season about to start losing their biggest hope, Harry Kane. The foresight and planning shown by Edu avoided similar dramas.
With the season about to start, it has been revealed that Edu might have pulled off the masterclass of the lot. A £3million loan deal for David Raya that includes a £27million buy option is simply a stroke of transfer genius to help the club comply with Financial Fair Play rules and perhaps grant them some flexibility for any late-window opportunities.
Outgoings though was arguably an even bigger challenge. With the potential for four-plus incomings, the squad was bloated as players returned from loans and young starlets outgrew the youth system; not to mention the aforementioned need to improve the reputation.
Granit Xhaka was initially thought to be moving to Bayer Leverkusen for around £13million, but was negotiated into a £21.5million sale, a figure which was more than half what the club paid more than seven years ago. Pablo Mari’s clause inserted into his loan last year at a €7million (£6.1million) obligatory purchase should Monza stay in Serie A added further money to the fund.
Auston Trusty, signed from Colorado Rapids in 2022 for around £1.5million and sent on loan to Birmingham was more than trebled in 2023 with a £5million sale to Sheffield United. Lastly, Matt Turner, now to be replaced by Raya, was sold to Nottingham Forest for a deal totalling £10million with add-ons after signing for an initial £5.5million last year.
Folarin Balogun’s profile remains a saga that continues to go on and Arsenal are hoping to land a record sale for the club football.london understands. Edu has already rejected two offers from Monaco, the most recent reported to be £34.4million.
Arsenal are not buckling under the weight of the timescale or the pressure to sell. They have a valuation and Edu wants to maximise what they can get for a player they nearly lost was it not for a very late contract renewal in 2021; a move which might earn the Gunners a serious reward.
On two counts, it’s been very good from Edu. But lastly, and speaking of contract renewals, has been the successful negotiation in the past year of Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli, Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba’s new contracts.
As Arsenal are on the rise again, they’re not losing their stars. Instead, the man overseeing the off-field operations with his colleagues has been able to change the entire view of the club and with manager Arteta, they are looking to establish this club at the top again.
Other clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, and of course Manchester City have done good business. Brighton, Aston Villa and Newcastle also stand out as clubs whose executives have worked hard to see them reach the peaks they have.
But the work Edu has done with his colleagues at Arsenal impresses the most. The only retort now comes from a tiny minority as the club aims to continue its presence at the elite level and embarks again into the elite European competition of the Champions League.
His promotion to sporting director also meant that his work expanded beyond his role as technical director. He has been in greater tune with the women’s side and has been responsible for some excellent transfer business for Jonas Eidevall’s side.
The loss of so many key players like Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema and Leah Williamson to injury plus the exit of Rafaelle had to be addressed and Edu delivered. Arguably the signing of the summer across the WSL has been the acquisition of Alessia Russo on a free transfer and with the additions of Chloe Lacasse and Amanda Ilestedt the Gunners are truly ready to take the fight to Chelsea next season and aim to go further in the Champions League too.
We were told, rather infamously, to “be excited” by Co-Chairman Josh Kroenke. Edu has been working to show us why it was right to believe him.