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Nottingham Forest set to secure deal that will prevent free transfer exit of Nuno favourite
Nottingham Forest are on course to tie down one of their leading performers with Ola Aina reportedly close to agreeing a new deal to stay at the City Ground.
The full-back’s current contract is due to expire next summer, putting Forest at risk of losing him on a free transfer. But the Athletic report that Aina is now nearing a new deal - and a pay increase - after a few weeks of negotiations.
Aina has steadily become a key figure in Nuno Espirito Santo’s team and is one of just three players to have started every Premier League match this season, along with goalkeeper Matz Sels and fellow defender Murillo. Having spent much of last season at left-back, he’s now making the right-back spot his own.
Initially joining on a one-year deal in 2023 after his contract at Italian side Torino expired, Forest chose to activate a clause to add another year to Aina's initial stay. But with that deal expiring next summer, the 28-year-old would have been free to negotiate with overseas clubs from January. Instead, he now looks like extending his stay at the City Ground.
Keeping Aina will help Nuno to stick with his settled defence. The Forest boss has selected the same back four for the past nine matches, since Aston Villa loanee Alex Moreno was handed his debut at left-back in September.
Should Aina stay into next season, he is likely miss a portion of the campaign. The 40-cap Nigeria international would be expected to be included in the Super Eagles squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, which runs between December 2025 and January 2026.
