How Edu spent £795m Arsenal transfer budget as Gunners rocked by shock departure

Arsenal have been rocked by news that sporting director Edu Gaspar is set to leave the club after five years overseeing the club's rebuild and recruitment. The report comes 48 hours after the Gunners suffered defeat at the hands of Newcastle United on Tyneside.

Edu has worked closely alongside Mikel Arteta to focus on bringing in players who fit the manager's tactical style and build the long-term future of the North London club. LondonWorld understands that a statement on Edu's future club will be made in the coming weeks.

The 46-year-old, who won the Premier League twice with the Gunners as a player in 2002 and 2004, helped to bring in some of the biggest first team names that have gone on to define the latest era of the football club. LondonWorld looks at Edu's Arsenal work, window-by-window.

2019/20

Arsenal had already signed Cedric Soares and Pablo Mari by the time Edu arrived on July 9, 2019 but the biggest spending of that summer came after his appointment. The Gunners blew a staggering £72 million on Nicolas Pepe, who never truly flourished in London and left the club for free in 2023.

Edu did poach London rivals Chelsea that summer to recruit David Luiz. The versatile defensive midfielder endured an underwhelming two years marred by red cards but only cost £8 million in 2019. Kieran Tierney also arrived at the Emirates Stadium from Celtic for £25 million. The Scotsman has been beleaguered by injuries but has racked up 124 appearances for the club.

The signing of that summer came in spending just £8 million on winger Gabriel Martinelli from Brazilian side Ituano - the player is still just 23 years old and has blossomed in North London. Dani Ceballos also moved from Real Madrid on a season-long loan that would eventually be extended for another season as he played an important part in the early Arteta years.

2020/21

In a transfer window delayed by the pandemic, the marquee signing for Arsenal was that of Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid for £45 million. The midfielder missed the majority of last season with injury but is still a regular under Arteta.

Gabriel Magalhaes was also recruited from Lille four years ago. That £23 million spent looks a coup now with the centre-back one of the Premier League's best and a definite triumph. Goalkeeper Runar Runarsson and midfielder Tim Akinola also signed at the Emirates Stadium from Dijon and Huddersfield Town but never became regulars.

Meanwhile, Willian arrived for free on a three-year contract but left after a turbulent 12 months and Omar Rekik was signed in January but left this summer as somewhat of a forgotten man. Pablo Mari also made his loan from Flamengo permanent.

2021/22

It was a busy summer ahead of the 2021/22 campaign with transfer fees coughed up for nine players. The most expensive of those was Ben White, who arrived from Brighton for £50 million. He's gone on to become a linchpin under Arteta and warranted that outlay with 144 appearances for the club.

Martin Odegaard made his loan from Real Madrid permanent for £30 million and is now club captain and the heartbeat of midfield. Aaron Ramsdale was also recruited from Sheffield United for £24 million and enjoyed two seasons as number one before being ousted by David Raya.

In more forgettable moves, Fabio Vieira came in from Porto for £34 million, Albert Sami Lakonga from Anderlecht for £15 million, Nuno Tavares from Benfica for £8 million and Aaron Trusty from Colorado Rapids for £1.8 million. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Marquinhos are also both still on the books at the Emirates having arrived that summer for £17.2 million and £3 million respectively.

2022/23

Kai Havertz took a while to come good having completed a £65 million move from Chelsea two years ago but is now flourishing and has seven goals in all competitions this term. Jorginho also moved from Stamford Bridge to the Emirates Stadium for £12 million.

The Gunners also poached Premier League rivals Brighton once again that summer to snap up Leandro Trossard for £21 million, who is another key man for Arteta.

A big £45 million was spent on Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus, who came to London wanting more gametime and has got that over the last two years. Full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko made the same move for £30 million shortly afterwards.

Jakub Kiwior has been an important squad player in recent times and came in that summer for £21 million from Spezia. Goalkeeper Matt Turner also arrived for £5.5 million from New England but was only ever back-up.

2023/24

The biggest outlay of the Edu era came in the summer of 2023 when splashing £105 million on West Ham man Declan Rice. That was a mammoth fee but the 25-year-old has plenty of time to prove his worth and is going about that the right way.

Jurrien Timber also came in from Ajax for a cool £34 million but suffered a horrible ACL injury on his Premier League debut and missed pretty much all of the first season at the club.

2024/25

The recent window, which would prove to be Edu's last at Arsenal, was fairly quiet. Euro 2024 winner Mikel Merino came in from Real Sociedad for £27.4 million and Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna for £42 million.

The Gunners also made David Raya's loan move from Brentford permanent after an impressive season between the sticks. That cost £27 million. Neto and Raheem Sterling arrived on loan from AFC Bournemouth and Chelsea.