Ola Aina: Nottingham Forest sign Nigeria international defender
Nottingham Forest have signed Nigeria international Ola Aina on a one-year deal after his contract with Serie A side Torino expired.
The defender, 26, who joined the Italian side from Chelsea in 2018, is Forest’s first signing of the summer.
They are also close to signing Manchester United’s Anthony Elanga.
“He’s a versatile player who has good experience of the Premier League and Serie A,” head coach Steve Cooper said of Aina.
“He’s a really good player, but a good athlete as well. He’ll definitely make the team stronger.”
The full-back briefly returned to the Premier League when he spent time on loan at Fulham during the 2020-2021 season.
“It’s exciting to be back playing in the Premier League. It’s the best league in the world and I always want to challenge myself,” said Aina.
Born in London, Aina represented England at youth level but then chose to play for Nigeria. Since his senior debut in 2017, Aina has made 30 appearances for the Super Eagles.
- Our coverage of Nottingham Forest is bigger and better than ever before – here’s everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
- Everything Forest – go straight to all the best content
- READ MORE
-
JUST IN : Nottingham Forest’s are moving to goalkeeper has been…..
-
Nottingham Forest offer ‘messing with’ player’s mind – ‘Fantastic contract’ offer proving temptingNottingham Forest’s interest in Braga goalkeeper Matheus has been ‘messing with the goalkeeper’s mind’ as he considers the move to the Premier League.
That’s according to O Jogo, who say the player is tempted by the switch but has found Braga uninterested in discussing a deal.
The newspaper explains that Nottingham Forest are a ‘concrete suitor’ for the goalkeeper as they eye him as a replacement for Keylor Navas and Dean Henderson, whose loan spells at the club ended last season and thus left them without a number one.
Numerous reports from Portugal have indicated that they’ve been bidding for Matheus but found Braga unwilling to do a deal and lose their own first choice goalkeeper.
O Jogo follow that up and explain that Nottingham Forest have offered the goalkeeper a ‘fantastic contract’ and the chance to shine in the Premier League.
That has been ‘messing with the goalkeeper’s mind’ as he ‘feels challenged’ by the opportunity to take the step to England.
Braga, though, aren’t interested in selling as he is a key part of their plans this season and so have ‘not facilitated’ a move happening up to this point.
They’re more than aware of the interest from Nottingham Forest and even approaches from Spain but they don’t plan to change their stance. Indeed, they are currently planning for him to go into his tenth season with the club next season.
Perhaps that would change if Nottingham Forest continue to push and Matheus makes it clear he wants out, but at the moment this is a transfer which does not appear likely to happen.
READ MORE
BREAKING NEWS : Nottingham Forest now ready to bid for ……
Nottingham Forest: Reds eyeing summer move for David SoriaCould the Getafe goalkeeper be on his way to the City Ground?
- Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Getafe goalkeeper David Soria in the summer transfer window.
- Soria has been a consistent performer for Getafe and has extensive experience in La Liga.
- He could be a shrewd addition for Forest, with his success in the Europa League and his suitability to their style of play.
- Nottingham Forest are expressing an interest in signing Getafe goalkeeper David Soria in the summer window, according to a fresh transfer update.
Who is target David Soria?
The Spaniard has been a consistent performer for Getafe since joining from Sevilla back in 2018, establishing himself as their regular number one between the sticks. He has made 185 La Liga appearances in that time, outlining his reliability, and he has kept 68 clean sheets in the competition as well.
- Soria is also a two-time Europa League winner, having tasted success with Sevilla in 2014/15 and 2015/16, so although he is yet to be capped by Spain at international level he does have experience under immense pressure on the big stage. The 30-year-old only signed a contract extension with Getafe back in 2021, but it could be that a summer move away from the club develops, with interest in his signature emerging.Nottingham Forest are one of the clubs looking to bring in a new ‘keeper before the 2023/24 Premier League season gets underway, as they look to fill a hugely important position at the club.Dean Henderson could be an option to come in, having spent last season on loan at the City Ground, with veteran stopper Neylor Navas also linked with a Reds reunion after impressing on a temporary basis when the former was out injured last time around.
-
Are Nottingham Forest signing David Soria?
According to Marca [via Sport Witness], Forest are also keen on making a move for Soria in the current transfer window, with a bid of €5-6m (£4.3m-5.1m) in the offing. They are believed to have turned their attention to the Getafe man over Henderson and Navas.
The La Liga side are looking to earn €10m (£8.6m) for their ‘keeper’s signature, however, so the Reds are unlikely to have it all their own way in their pursuit of him.
Soria may be something of an unknown to those who aren’t necessarily La Liga fans, but he could be a shrewd addition for Forest this summer, having racked up so much experience in one of Europe’s top leagues over an extended period of time. His aforementioned success in the Europa League also shows that he knows how to win at an elite level, and given his age, he is highly unlikely to be daunted by a move to the Premier League.
Renowned as a sweeper keeper in the mould of Alisson and Ederson, Soria could be ideal when it comes to suit Forest’s style of play, too, and he has been hailed as “magnificent” by journalist Mouhamad Rachini in the past.
