Nottingham Forest, a club steeped in football history, returned to the Premier League in 2022 after a lengthy absence. Under the ownership of Evangelos Marinakis, Forest have been on an ambitious journey, making a significant number of signings to bolster their squad. Our friends at Ticket Compare have analysed the top 10 signings that have shaped Forest’s Premier League campaign.
Nottingham Forest’s New Signings in the Premier League
Here’s a list of the top 10 Nottingham Forest’s new signings from July 2022 to February 2024:
- Taiwo Awoniyi
- Orel Mangala
- Morgan Gibbs-White
- Serge Aurier
- Danilo
- Keylor Navas
- Felipe
- Anthony Elanga
- Murillo
- Callum Hudson-Odoi
1. Taiwo Awoniyi
The first of Nottingham Forest’s Premier League newcomers was dynamic striker Taiwo Awoniyi. Hailing from Nigeria, the striker made his mark after an impressive season with Bundesliga side Union Berlin, netting an impressive 20 goals in 43 matches during the 2021/22 campaign.
Securing Awoniyi’s services for a reported fee of £17 million was a statement of intent by Forest, and the striker wasted no time endearing himself to the faithful. The Nigerian striker made an instant impact with 11 goals in his debut Premier League season.
2. Orel Mangala
Joining the ranks as the 11th new Premier League signing for Nottingham Forest was talented Belgian midfielder, Orel Mangala. Renowned for his ability to navigate through opposition pressure, Mangala brought composure to Forest’s midfield.
For the first half of the 2023/24 season, Mangala emerged as a standout performer, consistently delivering on the pitch. However, the club faced a significant juncture in January 2024 when a substantial offer arrived from Ligue 1 giants Lyon. Despite Mangala’s contributions, Forest reluctantly bid farewell as he departed for Lyon in a deal reportedly valued at up to £30 million plus add-ons.
3. Morgan Gibbs-White
The most significant new signing in Nottingham Forest’s recent history was the arrival of English midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. Secured for an initial sum of £25 million, Gibbs-White was the top transfer target for then-manager Steve Cooper during the summer transfer window.
On the 19th of August 2022, Forest secured Gibbs-White’s signature, a move that has proven to be a great investment. Serving as the talisman of the team, Gibbs-White’s influence is felt across the pitch.
While Gibbs-White remains a pivotal figure for the club for the 2023/24 season, many clubs are interested in signing him. With the player having aspirations of an England national team call-up and interest from Premier League heavyweights such as Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, Forest may soon face the prospect of parting ways with their prized asset.
4. Serge Aurier
A recognizable figure from the Premier League scene made his way to the Trent side as defender Serge Aurier donned the Garibaldi Red, arriving at the club on a free transfer following the end of his contract with Villarreal. Known for his defensive skill set, Aurier established himself as a dependable player at Forest.
Throughout his tenure, Aurier showcased his defensive prowess while also contributing to the attacking play, notching a couple of crucial assists. Additionally, he etched his name into Forest folklore with a memorable goal against Chelsea in a thrilling 1-1 draw at the iconic City Ground, further endearing himself to the faithful.
5. Danilo
The 23rd addition to Nottingham Forest’s Premier League team was Brazilian midfield maestro Danilo. The previous signing of Gustavo Scarpa played a pivotal role in enticing the player to the club, as he made the leap from Palmeiras to the City Ground.
Signing in a deal worth £16 million, Danilo quickly justified Forest’s investment with a string of top performances during the latter stages of the 2022/23 season. His seamless adaptation to the Premier League signalled to Forest that they had secured more than their money’s worth.
6. Keylor Navas
When Dean Henderson succumbed to a thigh injury, Nottingham Forest faced the daunting task of securing a replacement first-choice goalkeeper. In a move that left Forest fans in disbelief, the club pulled off a coup by securing the services of Keylor Navas on loan from Paris Saint-Germain for the remainder of the season.
Navas’s loan spell provided stability in goal, and he was instrumental in Forest’s Premier League survival.
7. Felipe
Nottingham Forest’s trend of recruiting Brazilian talent continued with the signing of defender Felipe from Atlético Madrid. Becoming the fourth Brazilian to join the ranks, Felipe quickly made his mark with a strong second half of the season for the Reds, showcasing his defensive prowess as an impenetrable force at the heart of the backline.
8. Anthony Elanga
Nottingham Forest’s ambition was on full display with the signing of promising Swedish forward Anthony Elanga from Manchester United, in a deal valued at up to £15 million. Beating a host of competitors for his signature, Forest’s investment in Elanga has been quickly justified.
In his debut appearance for the club against Arsenal on the opening day of the season, Elanga wasted no time in making his mark, providing an assist for Taiwo Awoniyi. By January 2024, the young talent had already made significant contributions to Forest’s Premier League campaign, notching an impressive 11 goal involvements (5 goals and 6 assists), underlining his value to the team.
9. Murillo
Nottingham Forest’s acquisition of Brazilian centre-back Murillo stands out as one of the most impressive signings in recent memory. Despite making his senior debut for Corinthians as recently as April 26th, 2023, Forest wasted no time in securing the talented defender in a deal valued at up to €15 million, with potential add-ons.
Honing his skills in the world of futsal, Murillo possesses all the attributes of a modern-day defender. With his left-footed prowess, formidable strength, blistering pace, and calmness under pressure, he epitomises the ideal centre-back prototype.
While it’s still early days in his Forest journey, it’s clear that Murillo is destined for greatness.
His potential to become one of the best in the sport indicates that Forest can expect to make a lot of money from their investment in the future.
10. Callum Hudson-Odoi
Callum Hudson-Odoi, who won the Champions League with Chelsea, joined Forest at the last minute on deadline day in summer 2023. Although he’s suffered some injuries, Forest signed him for just £3 million, plus £2 million in add-ons.
Although it has taken a string of appearances to get him back in the swing of things, the player looks like he is finding his feet, having contributed in the final third on several occasions in the Premier League.
Conclusion
And there we have it, 10 of the best Nottingham Forest new signings in the Premier League. We hope you enjoyed learning about some of Forest’s prized gems, who have helped shape the club into an exciting, attractive footballing side.
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