DEAL CLOSED; Notthingham Forest now in the verge of agreement to sign £10m defender with offer made

Nottingham Forest Closing In on £10m Deal for Serie A Defender

Nottingham Forest are on the brink of securing a £10 million deal for defender Jackson Tchatchoua, according to reports.

Busy Summer at the City Ground

With preparations underway for their Europa League campaign, Forest have been active in the transfer market, aiming to strengthen their squad. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo is also working to fill the gap left by Anthony Elanga, who recently completed a move to Newcastle United.

In response, Forest have already brought in Dan Ndoye, Igor Jesus, and Jair Cunha. The club’s significant income from player sales this summer has given them further flexibility to make more signings.

One of the pressing concerns has been replacing goalkeeper Matt Turner. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed that Angus Gunn is set to join from Norwich City.

Tchatchoua Deal Nears Completion

However, Gunn might not be the only new arrival. According to reports from Italy (via Sport Witness), Forest are close to finalising a deal for Hellas Verona full-back Jackson Tchatchoua. The club has reportedly submitted an offer worth €12 million (around £10 million) plus bonuses—an amount deemed acceptable by Verona.

Tchatchoua is expected to sign a four-year contract with Forest once the deal is completed.

A Versatile Option for Nuno

The 23-year-old Cameroon international offers versatility, capable of playing as a right-back, left-back, or right wing-back. While Nuno already has Ola Aina as a reliable option—Aina made 35 Premier League appearances last season—Tchatchoua’s adaptability and attacking threat could provide valuable depth.

In the 2024–25 Serie A season, Tchatchoua scored twice and registered three assists, including a goal in Verona’s 2-0 win over Genoa last September.

Breaking into the starting XI may be a challenge, particularly with Aina earning widespread praise last season. Football journalist Zach Lowy even described Aina as “one of the best” full-backs in Europe.

Still, with Forest facing the demands of domestic and European competitions, the addition of a player like Tchatchoua could prove to be a smart move.