Edu promotes 'right-hand man' as Arsenal make two key backroom changes ahead of crucial transfer window

Arsenal sporting director Edu has undergone a revamp of his recruitment staff ahead of a crucial transfer window for the Gunners, a report has confirmed.

The Brazilian has worked alongside manager Mikel Arteta to bring in a number of important players this season, including Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and the January addition of Leandro Trossard.

Edu's time at the club in a technical director role, to which he was appointed in 2019, has also seen the incoming transfers of William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey, among others.

Speaking in February, Gunners legend Thierry Henry praised Edu - who was an Arsenal team-mate - and Arteta for bringing back the 'Arsenal I know'.

He told CBS Sports' 'House of Champions' podcast: "They don't see themselves in a team that doesn't represent the community. Edu, the board, Mikel Arteta, whoever, however you want to call it, brought that back.

"Are we going to win the league? I don't know. But it looks like the Arsenal that I know."

Now, Edu has reportedly made a number of key changes to his team prior to the summer window.

Edu makes key recruitment changes

According to The Athletic, the Brazilian has moved to appoint Jason Ayto as his assistant sporting director at the club.

Ayto joined the Gunners as a scout, before moving into a role as recruitment co-ordinator - a role described as being 'Edu's right-hand man' by the report.

Furthermore, James Ellis has been promoted to head of recruitment. He joined the club from Fulham in 2021 and was initially responsible for scouting and reviewing domestic talent before reporting back to Edu.

The changes are the latest in a sweeping re-brand of Arsenal's academy system, which began shortly after the appointment of the 48-year-old to his technical director role.

Both he and Arteta will hope the changes have a positive effect this summer as the Spaniard looks to refresh his squad with some smart signings in order to produce another Premier League title challenge.

Thought will also have to be given to another European campaign, with the Gunners to play Champions League football for the first time since 2017.

Both Ayto and Ellis are said to be set to work within the men's and women's senior and academy teams.